14-Year-Old Annaleise Carr Beats Marilyn Bell’s Record, Raises Money for Camp

When kids arrive at school in the coming weeks, they will be filled with tales of summer to share with friends and teachers. Family trips, summer camp, a visit to grandma’s. But only one 14-year-old named Annaleise Carr will be able to say she became the youngest person to swim across Lake Ontario, break boomer Marilyn Bell’s record (the first to cross the lake in 1956) and raise more than $90,000 for a good cause. Impressive to say the least.

It all started when Carr simply wanted to volunteer at Camp Trillium, a summer camp for children with cancer, but was turned away for being too young (she had to be 18 to volunteer). After hearing the news last year, Carr made other plans to make a difference. She and and her team of supporters began swimming long distances daily, practising night swims and preparing for worst-case scenarios. The 14-year-old originally set a goal of $30,000.

Carr spent 27 hours in the water and has been taken to the hospital for a routine check but is scheduled to speak at a press conference later today.

Click here to read more about Carr’s time spent travelling from Niagara to Toronto. 

-Tianna Robinson