Some people talk about pushing their limits. Others just jump into freezing water and swim 110 kilometers.
Chad English belongs firmly in the second group. Five years ago, a casual conversation with a friend turned into a stubborn challenge. Someone told him he could never swim the entire length of Lake of the Woods from Sable Island to Kenora. That single comment lit a fire. This summer, that fire turned into a massive physical feat that raised over $80,000 for children's health care and local community initiatives.
If you think a 110-kilometer swim sounds exhausting, try doing it across a sprawling lake famous for having more than 14,000 islands. English didn't do it for a trophy. He did it for his fifteen-year-old daughter, Sophie.
The Driving Force Behind Chad Big Swim
Sophie's story defines why this journey mattered so much. Born prematurely at 32 weeks, she required immediate heart surgery at Toronto's SickKids Hospital. By age one, doctors diagnosed her with cerebral palsy, which meant enduring multiple intensive surgeries at the Shriners Hospital for Children.
Walking independently wasn't always an option for her growing up. But the water changed everything.
"I always felt like the water was a safe place because when I was younger I wasn't able to walk on my own, but when I got into the water I was able to walk because the water would hold me," Sophie explained.
That safety transformed into raw talent. Today, Sophie is a powerhouse athlete. She holds three Canadian para-swimming records, six provincial records, and has her sights locked squarely on the 2030 Paralympics. Watching her conquer the pool gave her father the daily push he needed to train through grueling conditions.
Breaking Down the 12 Day Lake Crossing
Starting on July 9, English faced an intimidating aquatic route. He structured the journey as a series of marathon stretches, swimming an average of 10 kilometers a day across 12 days. Lake of the Woods is notoriously unpredictable. Weather shifts fast. Water temperatures fluctuate. Fatigue settles into your shoulders by day two and never really leaves.
Yet, every stroke carried a specific purpose. English aimed to give back to the institutions that saved and shaped his daughter's life.
The funds collected through the campaign are directed to several critical pillars:
- SickKids Hospital in Toronto
- Shriners Hospital for Children
- Lake of the Woods Hospital Foundation
- Dr. Beveridge Kenora Community Fund
- Jennifer Schott Scholarship Fund
Raising more than $80,000 required immense community backing, drawing heavy support from local residents and summer visitors alike who rallied behind the cause.
Crossing the Finish Line at Coney Island
The grand finale took place at Coney Island in Kenora during the local music festival weekend. But the best part wasn't stepping onto dry land. It was who joined him for the final meters.
Sophie swam right by her dad's side for the final stretch. Throughout the grueling weeks, whenever exhaustion threatened to break his resolve, he only had to look back. There she would be, telling him to pick up the pace.
"Just stroke after stroke I would look back and see her and she would tell me, 'Go a bit faster. Come on, you got to go a bit faster, dad,'" English laughed.
When they finally stood up together on the shore, the mission was complete. It stands as a powerful reminder of what community support, stubborn determination, and family love can achieve when things get tough. If a father can swim 110 kilometers across an island-filled lake to support children's health, finding ways to give back locally or support regional medical foundations is well within reach for anyone reading this. Check out local hospital foundations or children's health charities in your area to see where your own support can make a tangible difference today.
