Northern man diving back into Lake Huron for MS awareness
With cold water temperatures changing his plans, Matthieu Bonin is diving back into Lake Huron Monday to continue to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis.
“If you’re struggling with MS or you’re caretaking for someone with MS, I’m swimming for you,” said Bonin.
“I hope you feel valued and I hope this brings awareness to your cause.”
Originally Bonin had planned to swim around Manitoulin Island this summer, but cold water temperatures, unsafe conditions along with a mild case of hypothermia forced him to adjust his plans.
“I made it about 50 kilometres, I started July 1st and had a few big swims. As we went more south the water kept going more colder and colder,” he said.
“I think day 1 the water temperatures were between high 50s and low 60s and I’ve trained for the cold, so I was swimming mid 50s no problem and then near the end of the last swim the water temperatures was in the 40s so that was just too cold.”
The new plan, which Bonin is referring to as Phase 2, will see him hop in Meldrum Bay Monday morning with a goal of swimming his way back to Little Current. He expects it will take him about nine days to complete.
“This swim is to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research. It was meant to achieve the impossible. I wanted to be a sign post of a world free of MS,” added Bonin.
Bonin has a goal of $100,000 with money raised going back to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada’s We Challenge MS Campaign.
“It represents one dollar for every Canadian that has MS,” he said.
“The first step in achieving something is believing it’s possible.”
More information on his journey and to donate can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Is it cold, flu or norovirus? Symptoms explained
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Search continues for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S.
Police say they continue to search for an armed man who allegedly threatened people in Dartmouth, N.S.
Swarm of bees delays Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles game in Arizona. An 'MVP' beekeeper came to the rescue
Major League Baseball fans had an unexpected buzz on Tuesday after a swarm of bees delayed the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game for around two hours.
Newfoundland fisherman says police broke his leg during protest that delayed budget
Richard Martin is spending this year's fishing season on land after he says a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officer broke his left leg in three places during a protest last month that shut down the provincial legislature.
It's opening day for the $34B Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion
Wednesday marks the official start date of the long-awaited $34-billion Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project.