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A2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, August 8. 2001 Oakville swimmer fails to complete swim, but reaches her goal By Howard Mozel' OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Although Oakville's Debbie Bang failed to complete Saturday's 16-mile swim of the Severn River system, her sacrifice did not go unappreciated by the well-wishers cheering from the shore and those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Bang came agonizingly close approximately 2.5 miles from the finish line - but high winds, pounding waves, boat wakes and utter exhaustion exact ed their toll. "I hit the wall," said Bang, 41, who devised the swim - accompanied by three other women for parts of the dis tance - to raise funds and create aware ness for breast cancer research. "I gave everything I had." Bang's pain and disappointment were assuaged, however, by the heart felt welcome she and her friends received once they were all safe and sound on land. The icing on the cake was the more than $4,000 they raised, $1.50 of which was given in change by a little boy. One spectator, a two-year breast cancer survivor the same age as Bang, also gave a donation, but said it was hard to express her feelings about what the swimmers had accomplished. "She gave me a hug," said Bang. "It was very emotional." According to Bang, the three first time swimmers who accompanied her were simply "amazing." Liz Yetisir, for example, completed the eight-mile Swift Rapids to Big Chute section with her husband Metin in a kayak beside her. Joanne VanderVies completed six miles with her friends Cheri and Gordan Brown in the canoe with her. Jennie Popplow got into the water at Big Chute and completed four miles of extremely rough swim ming with Bang's brother Jamie Myles in the canoe beside her. Bang completed her 13.5 miles with her hus band and coach Steve in the kayak beside her. Bang's father Herb Myles was in the runner boat with food supplies. Each swimmer "swam with their heart," said Bang, remembering the special women in each of their lives that had faced B raving heavy w inds an d pounding waves in breast cancer and their S aturday's Severn River swim for breast cancer battle to fight the disease, research w ere, from left, Liz Yetisir, Jo an n e Bang said volunteers VanderVies, Debbie Bang and Jennie Popplow. from the Orillia chapter met by the other swimmers and family of the Canadian Cancer Society were and friends. Bang's mother had made also on hand and collected more than her a breast cancer quilt with the pink $ 1,500 in donations along the route. breast cancer ribbon in the quilted "We also had phenomenal support squares, in memory of this swim, from cottagers along the shoreline," she Several members of her quilting guild said. insisted on helping her since they too Bang explained that the extremely had been affected by breast cancer and rough water started at Glouster Pool, wanted to be part of the event, and for the next 4.5 miles she gave Bang said she's busy planning next everything she had but couldn't battle years swim and is thinking of reducing the size of the waves. the distance to eight miles and increas"I got out of the water with 2.5 miles ing the number of swimmers, offering to go, shivering, teeth chattering in the relay options and is hoping to have a 80 degree water, extremely white and children's swim and breast cancer sursick to my stomach ... nothing left to vivor teams to join the event, swim with, 1 had used up all my Donations can be sent to the reserves," said Bang. "Both Jennie and Canadian Cancer Society in Orillia, 190 I swam through intense leg cramps in Memorial Ave, Unit F, Orillia. Ontario the early part of our swims." L3V 5X6, (705) 326-9587 or toll-free At journey's end, though, Bang was 1-800-555-7922. O FF everything in the COME IN FOR YOUR FREE COLLECTOR'S BOOK COLLECTOR'S BOOK is on s a le Kwinter at Liberal fundraiser Aug. 16 York Centre MPP Monte Kwinter will be guest speaker at a breakfast semi nar sponsored by the Oakville Provincial Liberal Association on Thursday, Aug. 16. The event, which takes place at Quality Hotel and Suites starting, starts with breakfast at 7 a.m. followed by Kwinter's remarks on economic development in Ontario at 8 a.m. Tickets are $25 and are available by calling 827-5286 or by visiting www.oakvilleliberal.com A tax receipt will be issued for the eligible portion of the ticket price. 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