Diving in

Big, boundless and alluring, the ocean exerts an almost magical pull. For some, the ocean is like an old friend, while for others it is the great unknown and the prospect of ‘plunging in’ and taking it on with little more than a swimsuit and determination can be daunting to say the least. For that reason, for many Australians an ocean swim represents the ultimate personal challenge – a goal that demands fitness, discipline and a healthy respect for the sea.

For participants in the CanToo Foundation's annual Summer Ocean Swim program though, crossing the finish line in an ocean swim represents so much more than completing a kilometre or two in open water. It is the very embodiment of the CanToo philosophy – attaining a personal goal while also helping to the further medical research – a win, win situation if you will.

It is the culmination of personal training, fundraising and community support, all directed towards one shared goal – helping fund life-changing cancer research.

This is the approach at the very heart of CanToo and one of the many elements that sets it apart. It sees supporters actively involved in furthering their own physical and mental wellbeing as part of fun raising efforts, rather than simply calling for donations.

The annual Summer Ocean Swim program has become one of the foundation's signature initiatives, attracting everyone from experienced swimmers looking to tackle longer distances to people literally looking to dip their toe into open-water swimming for the very first time. Swims events and their respective training programs take place in different locations and across different distances, with the 1, 2.5 and 5 kilometre swims held throughout the Sydney area.

Like most good ideas, the concept is deceptively simple. Participants sign up for a structured training program that prepares them for one or more organised ocean swim events during the Australian summer. Under the guidance of qualified coaches, they train each week in both swimming pools and the ocean, steadily building endurance, improving technique and learning the unique skills required for safe open-water swimming. Along the way, they also commit to raising funds that support CanToo's broader mission of investing in promising early-career cancer researchers.

This unique approach has certainly proved itself, with more than 22,000 participants having been coached and more than $35 million raised. This in turn has allowed the support of more than 160 cancer research projects, creating an impressive legacy that extends well beyond the sporting arena.

The CanToo ocean swim is an experience that unfolds over several months, with participants signing up to a training program to prepare for their desired distance – ranging from one kilometre through to five kilometres.  The annual Summer Ocean Swim program typically includes one coached pool session and one supervised beach session each week, with the pool training focusing on refining stroke technique and building aerobic fitness over time. Beach sessions introduce participants to the unpredictable nature of the ocean, teaching them how to read waves, navigate surf conditions, identify rips and safely enter and exit the water.

For newcomers, these practical lessons are often the difference between feeling intimidated by the ocean and learning to enjoy it with confidence.

Even experienced pool swimmers quickly discover that open water presents an entirely different set of challenges and getting comfortable in what can often be a daunting environment is one of the many attractions of taking part.

The CanToo community offers up a supportive environment in which to challenge yourself and achieve personal goals. Coaches provide technical advice, while fellow swimmers offer encouragement during difficult training sessions and fundraising milestones alike. And while it is a competition against oneself as opposed to an ocean race swim, it is also a breeding ground for new friendships as well as strengthening the bonds of existing ones.

By the time race day arrives, participants have already achieved something significant. Completing the swim becomes almost symbolic, representing weeks of persistence, incremental progress and mutual encouragement. For many, simply entering the ocean with confidence is an achievement they never imagined possible only a few months earlier.

Just as important as the personal journey is the fundraising aspect of the event, which sees every participant committing to raising a set amount during the program, with CanToo providing practical advice, online resources and ongoing support to help them reach that target too.

Those funds in turn go on to fund vital cancer research, with CanToo directing proceeds towards emerging researchers whose innovative ideas might otherwise struggle to secure funding. It is an investment not only in individual researchers but in the future of medical science itself.

Perhaps that explains why so many participants return year after year, with more than 6000 people trained since the ocean swim’s inception in 2007. It may begin with a desire to conquer a personal milestone while doing some good along the way. But more often than not, it leads not only to personal achievement but to lifelong friendships and the satisfaction of knowing that the effort has also helped others by supporting important cancer research. It is a compelling example of how philanthropy and personal wellbeing can become a self-perpetuating loop for good.