On a cold day in October last year, Jasmin Gerwien drove to the Dallas Road beach opposite Ross Bay Cemetery, said a prayer, and walked into the ocean water.
Wracked with back pain and an all-encompassing grief due to her motherB次元官网网址檚 recent passing, Gerwien felt a compulsion to enter the water, clothes and all.
The Dallas Road beach held deep connections with her and her mother, but being there prompted a desperate act to regain control of her life.
B次元官网网址淚 came out of the water freezing, but the pain was gone. It was a complete miracle,B次元官网网址� Gerwien said. B次元官网网址淚 took a deep breath. It was the first time I could breathe since my mother passed. I went back and stayed in the water longer. That was the beginning.B次元官网网址�
The 49-year-old Cadboro Bay resident said the frigid saltwater washed away the suffering and grief. Through the winter and without a wet suit, she has become one of the rare people to regularly swim the waterfront of Victoria. Ocean swimming has become an almost daily routine.
B次元官网网址淪wimming helped my depression. Without that I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be alive today, if not for ocean swimming. IB次元官网网址檓 so thankful we have a beautiful ocean in Victoria,B次元官网网址� Gerwien said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the best medicine you can ask for.B次元官网网址�
To honour her motherB次元官网网址檚 memory, Gerwien is launching her Victory Ocean Swim event on Sunday to collect donations for the Mustard Seed food bank.
Growing up in Palestine, Kuwait and eventually Canada, Gerwein said her mother, Victoria B次元官网网址� which in Arabic translates to B次元官网网址淰ictoryB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� always fed those around her B次元官网网址� neighbours, friends and strangers. In Edmonton, she volunteered constantly at a food bank, Gerwien said.
B次元官网网址淚 want to continue my motherB次元官网网址檚 legacy,B次元官网网址� said Gerwien, who works as a Realtor and an actor in local TV commercials. B次元官网网址淪upporting the food bank was a big part of our life.B次元官网网址�
For the Victory Ocean Swim event, people are encouraged to bring non-perishable foods, warm clothing and cash to Gyro Park for the Mustard Seed, and if they are feeling brave, to take an early polar bear swim in the ocean.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 no obligation to get in the water, especially if people have health concerns, Gerwien said, and using a wet suit is fine too.
B次元官网网址淭hat water is freezing,B次元官网网址� she said laughing. B次元官网网址淚 feel the cold, but itB次元官网网址檚 worth it. After two minutes I feel the warmth and energy and I can go home and continue my day,B次元官网网址�
GerwienB次元官网网址檚 friends and colleagues know of her passion for cold ocean swimming all too well. She even convinced the president of her company, Michael Holmes of Pemberton Holmes, to take a dip off Dallas Road.
B次元官网网址淚t was bloody cold,B次元官网网址� Holmes said. B次元官网网址淚t was invigorating. I enjoyed it a lot. There is something about being frozen that gets the juices going and the skin tingling.B次元官网网址�
He plans to face the ocean once again at the Victory Swim.
B次元官网网址淚 hope people come to participate, get inspired and get invigorated for a good cause of putting food on peopleB次元官网网址檚 tables,B次元官网网址� Gerwein said.
The swim starts at 1 p.m. at Gyro Beach on Nov. 11.
Cadboro Bay merchants have donated gift certificates for people who brave the water.
For more information email jgerwien@shaw.ca or see jasminvictoria.com.
editor@saanichnews.com
