Girl, 15, ‘needs nap’ after swimming Lake Ontario

Ashleigh Beacham cuts a determined profile as she swims in the moonlight Sunday Aug. 18, 2013 : JOHN IRONSIDE/QMI AGENCY

“Now I need a nap.”

With those words, 15-year-old Ashleigh Beacham of Komoka, ON, finished her arduous, 18-hour swim across Lake Ontario on Sunday night.

The teenager finished her 52-km conquest of the lake — the first swimmer to do so this season — just minutes before 8 p.m. in Toronto.

She began her swim from Queen’s Beach at Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Not allowed to hold onto anything in the water, she had to tread water while taking breaks to eat or drink.

“There was a time I didn’t know if I’d make it, but I persevered,” said the Medway high school student, tucked inside a blanket.

“I just kept thinking of Josh.”

Josh is the Make-A-Wish Foundation child, a five-year-old London, Ont., boy, who will be going to Disney World with his family now because of Ashleigh, whose fundraising swim raised more than $10,000 — and counting — for the foundation.

Ashleigh’s mom and dad were in a boat alongside Ashleigh and had extra support with them — a nurse, a doctor and her coaches.

“I’m so proud of my sister, she’s been training for this for so long,” said younger brother, Zachary, 13.

Zachary was waiting alongside dozens of others at Marilyn Bell park in Toronto who waited to cheer the young swimmer in.

A DJ played popular songs and cheered the crowd on, shouting “Make some noise for Ashleigh” as she swam her final 2 km to shore.

“Everyone here at Make-A-Wish is thrilled and delighted to be part of Ashleigh’s journey across Lake Ontario (and) the funds she’s raised to support a brave child in Ontario,” said Elissa Schmidt, a foundation director.

“It’s really unbelievable. She’s such an inspiring young girl for everyone,” said Schmidt.

Make-A-Wish grants wishes for children ages 3-17 with life-threatening conditions.

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