With the memory of the family patriarch front of mind, the Oake family gathered Monday (January 6) for the launch of the 39th Carl Oake Rotary Swim in support of Easter Seals and Rotary-supported projects.
Oake died January 2nd at age 79, just days before the scheduled launch. Despite their grief, the family – daughters Vanessa, Lesley and Renée with their mom Tana – opted to go ahead with the event, sharing details of the February 28 fundraiser at the YMCA of Peterborough. Vanessa later said that was what their father would have wanted.
Oake says the family has been touched by the tributes to her father that have been expressed, both publicly and privately.
Since its inception, the Carl Oake Rotary Swim has raised $1.4 million, with many of those dollars supporting projects funded by the Rotary Club of Peterborough, which Oake joined in 1983. Rotary president Ken Seim says the event needed a personality of Oake’s stature to withstand the test of time.
Last year’s swim raised just more than $40,000. Organizers are hopeful of surpassing that result this year. Event registration and details are available at www.carloakerotaryswim.ca.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
