Last year, we introduced you to Novar resident Joy Jarvis who swam 9 kilometres to raise money for lifesaving equipment at Huntsville Hospital. The almost four-and-a-half-hour trek took Joy from Algonquin Outfitters’ dock in downtown Huntsville, up the Muskoka River to Lake Vernon, around Gallagher’s Island and back.
Joy will be doing it again this year – this time to raise money for a new CT scanner.
“It’s my third year for the (Huntsville) Hospital Foundation,” Joy told 705BLACKFLY.COM. “Overall, it’s my 30th year of fundraising and swimming.”
A lifelong swimmer, Joy has been training three times a week since early June. A 9-kilometre swim would be a challenge for almost anyone, but Joy is a proud 66-years-young.
“I’ve been told I don’t look it!” Joy laughs.
Joy’s fundraising efforts have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for camps for children battling cancer, and Hospice Huntsville.
“If I look back thirty years ago, I don’t think I’d be doing what I am,” she reflects. “Thirty years ago, when I started this, I thought I’d just do it for a bit, but I enjoy swimming. I love it apparently; I’ve been swimming since I was a year and a half. I was competitive and then I got into the distance swimming. It just feels so rewarding to achieve my swims which are my goals. You know, I tell people if you work hard you’re going to achieve your dreams. Don’t ever give up.”
Donations can be made via Joy’s Just Giving page or through the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. Joy’s Swim For A New CT Scanner is on July 13th. You can pop by to donate and show your support. Check out the audio file below for our conversation with Joy!
