Salmon ArmB次元官网网址檚 unstoppable Jack McNeil, 10, has parlayed his original goal of raising $1,000 for cancer research into nearly $10,000 in what became a biathlon event. 

After hitting the road last November, Jack recently hit the pool to swim 2.5 kilometres to continue his fundraising efforts for the BC Cancer Foundation (BCCF).

Inspired by Terry Fox, the Grade 5 Bastion Elementary student ran from Salmon Arm to Enderby over two days last November and managed to get $1,295 in pledges. Through a link on the BCCF website, donations to JackB次元官网网址檚 initiative quickly reached over $7,000, which encouraged him to keep going. 

B次元官网网址淩ight after we completed the run, when he made it to, I think it was $7,200, he was like B次元官网网址榳ow, thatB次元官网网址檚 almost $10,000... I wonder if I could get to $10,000B次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� mom Lana McNeil explained of JackB次元官网网址檚 new goal, which she encouraged him to pursue.

While Jack proposed they do another run, she steered him in another direction and suggested instead doing a swim as heB次元官网网址檚 a member of the Columbia Shuswap Selkirks Swim Club. As the older levels sometimes swim across the two to three kilometre channel, they took that idea indoors to the pool with help from coach Greg Perkins. That translated to Jack swimming 2.5 kilometres, or 100 lengths of the public pool, on Saturday, March 1 where it only took him 1.5 hours to complete despite the coach anticipating two to three. McNeil attributed that to not only his swim training, but also the solid plan Perkins had in place that would utilize different swimming strokes and styles.

Jack also had the support of some senior Selkirks boys who showed up at the pool to cheer him on, and even jumped in at the end to support him in his last few laps. 

Through his efforts, Jack is now just $400 short of his goal at $9,560, with the donation  through the BC Cancer Foundation remaining open until he crosses that finish line. 

The young philanthropist is already talking about doing something again this year and while there are no firm plans yet, McNeil said a few of JackB次元官网网址檚 friends would be interested in running as well if he were to pursue that again. 

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite amazing the support, and the drum up of community acknowledgement with it,B次元官网网址� she said of the momentum heB次元官网网址檚 created. B次元官网网址淎nd people that are wanting to jump onboard, itB次元官网网址檚 really quite amazing.B次元官网网址�

While Jack is looking ahead to other initiatives, his 8-year-old sister Charlotte is now similarly inspired B次元官网网址渢o do something that will give back to the community and help raise money.B次元官网网址� As with her brother, nothing is confirmed yet, but the family is exploring options with her love of animals and the environment. 

B次元官网网址淗e has really enjoyed helping people,B次元官网网址� McNeil said, adding his efforts have had a greater influence of which she and his dad Murray are very proud. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 had a wonderful ripple effect... itB次元官网网址檚 just been tear-jerking in some instances. ItB次元官网网址檚 just that little ripple effect, itB次元官网网址檚 just that thought that heB次元官网网址檚 put into peopleB次元官网网址檚 minds about what heB次元官网网址檚 doing... even that has been impressive.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎 huge thanks to all of the community supporters and to all of our friends,B次元官网网址� McNeil added of the response theyB次元官网网址檝e gotten, from contributions to online encouragement and appreciation to Jack himself. B次元官网网址淭he amount of support weB次元官网网址檝e gotten has just been unreal, just amazing.B次元官网网址�