An Inspired Swim
New Westminster resident Elise Niessen is planning a four-hour stretch of laps in the pool to raise money for babies born premature or with serious health conditions.
Inspired by her cousin's baby, who was born with holes in her heart, the Burnaby lifeguard decided to do something to help.
"She's my inspiration," said Niessen. "What better way to support our community by helping out the next generation - all the little babies that are born premature."
The 27-year-old is planning to swim, for four hours straight, on Friday, Aug.13, from noon to 4 p.m. at Canada Games Pool in New Westminster. Niessen is hoping to raise $2,500 for the neonatal intensive care unit at B.C. Children's Hospital. She's already raised $1,275, thanks to family and friends who've supported the cause.
Niessen's confident she can handle four hours of laps in the pool.
"I've never swum for four hours, not since I was 12," she said. "I'm not nervous to pull it off because I'm just so inspired by my cousin and shocked by how much the community has supported (me)."
Not only does Niessen lifeguard and teach water aerobics in Burnaby, she's a full-time UBC student.
B.C. Children's Hospital helped by setting up a web page for Niessen to outline her fundraising plan and the story on how she was inspired to act.
"My cousin's little baby, who I got to meet for the first time at my grandparents' funeral, was a little piece of sunshine on a dark cloudy day. Holding her lifted my spirit, such a beautiful precious little girl," Niessen wrote. The family had to wait till the baby weighed enough so surgery could be performed, and now, at six months, she's OK.
"Now she's a healthy baby. It's incredible," Niessen said. "This unit keeps babies alive by tubes."
To donate, visit: www.bcchf.ca, click on Our Communities and select Independent Community Events. Then, click on See a List of Active Events, and select Elise's Swim in support of the NICU at B.C. Children's Hospital.
Niessen's also planning a silent auction on Aug. 8 at River's Reach Pub (at 320 Sixth St.) from 6 to 9 p.m.
See Dr. Davidicus Wong's column on page 26 for more on this story.
Read more: http://www.royalcityrecord.com/health/Doing+laps+babies/3345383/story.html#ixzz0vr8KOA8J