A Clinton native is taking on an incredible feat, and raising money for mental health at the same time.
Jason Kloss, 35, is training to swim non-stop across Lake Ontario. About 12 years ago, Kloss swam across Lake Huron and raised $22,000 for cancer research.
"A little bit of a larger lake. Sixty-five kilometres took me 26 hours and three minutes from start to finish," Kloss explained. "It was a brutal experience."
Kloss explained his 51 km non-stop swim across Lake Ontario is scheduled to begin August 11, 2023, at Niagara on the Lake. It will end about 20 hours later in downtown Toronto on August 12, 2023.
He said he's swimming over five kilometres a day to get ready and continues to swim farther than he did to train for his original crossing. But he added there are some physical and mental aspects you just can't prepare for.
"The cold water, falling asleep while you're swimming, puking throughout the night: all these different aspects that you can't really train for, so I think that part is playing an effect on me this time," he said.
He said it's a daunting task, including daily training, while still working full time and spending time with family. He credited his support team and family to help keep him on track.
Kloss, who currently lives in Paris, Ontario, said the pandemic, combined with some personal tragedies, inspired him to raise money for mental health.
"My grandfather had died of Alzheimer's and dementia," he explained. "That definitely played an effect on me mentally to want to start swimming again. Then we had a friend who died of suicide."
Kloss added he was inspired to take on the challenge by his grandfather, who swam across Lake Huron at the age of 50.
Kloss hopes his swim will raise $50,000 for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Kloss is among just a few athletes to take on such a challenge.
"A handful of people have swam across Lake Huron. Lake Ontario is about 50 to 60ish people that have done those kinds of distances," Kloss continued.
Kloss said you can support him by heading to his website.
"We're also looking for support the day of the swim, we still need a sailboat," he said.
Kloss pointed out donors will have a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.
Swimmer Jason Kloss. Photo from Jason Kloss.
