Participants Feedback (Swim)

Just wanted to say a huge thank you again to the whole Can Too team for all your help, support and coaching over the last 12 weeks. I think I am just about over the shock of actually completing the swim on Sunday!! From struggling to swim 50m to completing a 2.7km swim – you really lived up to your promise in your first ever email!!! “If you aren’t confident at this stage I can promise by the end of the program you will be ready to conquer even the biggest wave!"

The program was great and everyone was so supportive all the way through. I have really recommended to my running friends that they join the Can Too Run program for the May half marathon.

- Lorna

Can’t believe how much I enjoyed it!!!! The journey was emotional there is no doubt and I still have a long way to go to become any kind of swimmer but I am going to persevere and carry on with swimming on Thursdays (even have to miss my running club!!!) and also on the weekend….I asked John if he would carry on with the ocean session as I much prefer it as it is more fun and more social….and as you know I love a chat!!!!!

The whole Can Too concept is fantastic!!! We really should be doing a documentary … the journey….would be much better viewing than the crocks of rubbish that are shown on TV!!!! And of course would be VERY happy to play the lead from the Back of the Pack Gang!! Ha ha ha. – Colette

Thank You so much for your inspiration with the concept of CanToo and for helping so many people in so many ways, me included !
The sense of accomplishment is palpable, still today 24hrs later !

In terms of the physical swim aspect: The support of the CanToo’ers, the care and professionalism of the coaches, John & Joel in particular, the excitement of all my sponsors, the look of pride in little boy’s eyes when I finished (and even before I started !) – all have been so rewarding.

Similarly with the fundraising: the generosity and passion of my sponsors, the surprising total that I was able to raise and the wonderful opportunity that the combined CanTooSwim group has enabled is wonderfully rewarding and satisfying.- Karyn

It was an incredible journey to say the least and on so many levels. I for one had not swum for probably 20 years and so was a virtual beginner. Like so many I'm sure, I had to fight back my insecurities and draw on my quiet determination especially in the early days of training. Lyn, in particular I remember you helping me so patiently with my "sight lines" one weekend at Bondi which stayed with me and happily proved very successful in yesterday's swim. Just have to learn to keep out of those damn rips on the way in now!

I was thrilled to hear the result of our efforts. Over $200,000! Bloody hell, that's just fantastic.

The experience has been extremely rewarding: the training, the camaraderie, the support, the swim and the fundraising. The love, support and generosity of spirit I experienced throughout the journey which ultimately materialised in the more tangible form as donations has been nothing less than fulfilling and food for the soul.

Congratulations to you both for all your dedication and efforts towards this programme. It has been, and will remain, an experience of a lifetime.- Pamela

Just a quick email to say thank you so much for your encouragement, support, enthusiasm and energy over the past few months.

I've had an absolute ball, made some wonderful friends and overcome my fear of the ocean!! The sense of camerarderie yesterday just blew me away, and I was on such a massive high for the rest of the day. Couldn't have asked for better conditions really - stunning blue skies, zero swell and balmy water.

Annie - we missed you lots yesterday but definitely felt you there in spirit. Keep being brave and stay focussed on a goal of running the marathon at the end of the year! We're all thinking of you and hoping you make the speediest recovery ever.

Can't wait to tackle my next challenge - the half marathon in May! And there's talk amongst the Can Too team about doing some Sunday swims down at Manly as well as some more ocean swims which is awesome. The spirit is well and truly alive!
- Sally

My thanks for the experience that has been the CanToo swim. As is so often true of personal goals it is the journey, not the destination, that is the inspiring part and for me it was certainly true of this. To all my fellow swimmers thanks for your inspiration and motivation to keep on coming week after week.

To the team at CanToo, mentors and coaches, what can I say...you have been fantastic and a real pleasure to work with. Love the concept, the intent, and the result. It was great to hear everyone yelling out "Go CanTooers" at the finish on the day. Keep up the excellent work.
- Hugh

I have been smiling all week and I got a great reception from the can too team today at training. I will definitely be there next year - with bells on! Asher Benjamin - he is a great runner but really wants to try a half marathon, and can too is just the perfect way to try it. We'll see if we can get him into the swim next year!

- Diana

I can't thank you enough for all your help, support and patience throughout the last 13 weeks. Sunday was awesome and I am going to continue to ocean swimming and are keen to sign up for next years 2.7km big swim. This has definitely been life changing and you can tell people if I can do this they "can too". I have had a lifetime fear of the wtaer and now I'm swimming in the ocean.

- Vicky

The fund raising model which you have created is such an inspired concept. Everyone wins, the journey is fun and most importantly Cure Cancer benefits.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience, particularly meeting such a great group of people, although at times I did wonder whether I was up to the challenge. John & Simon and many others offered some very timely encouragement and support and to cross the finish line yesterday was a real buzz. Please thank everyone on the team.

- John

Just a note to say thanks for your words of encouragement and congratulations regarding the ocean swim. A real bummer you could not be there on the day but we will forgive you this time!!

Can Too is a fantastic program and has certainly inspired me to become an ocean swimmer. I could not have done it without the support of the fantastic trainers, Jon and Mike.

Thanks again for all your enthusiasm.

I am not a runner so will be looking forward to catching the next swim program.

- Kass

Just a quick email to say thank you so much for your encouragement, support, enthusiasm and energy over the past few months.

I've had an absolute ball, made some wonderful friends and overcome my fear of the ocean!! The sense of camerarderie yesterday just blew me away, and I was on such a massive high for the rest of the day. Couldn't have asked for better conditions really - stunning blue skies, zero swell and balmy water.

Can't wait to tackle my next challenge - the half marathon in May! And there's talk amongst the Can Too team about doing some Sunday swims down at Manly as well as some more ocean swims which is awesome. The spirit is well and truly alive!

- Sally

Thanks for an amazing few months. Joining the Can Too program has been the best thing I've done since moving to Australia last year!

- Claire

Hi team,
Just a short message to thank you all for such a wonderful concept in fundraising, raising awareness for Cancer Research and for helping me in keeping disciplined in my training. All of the above have given me incredible incentive to participate in the Cantoo organisation and to keep living a healthy and worthwhile lifestyle.
Is it possible for me to get a printout of how much I managed to raise?
- Felicity

Hi Annie,

I just wanted to say THANKS! What you have created is truly amazing - it feels awesome to be part of a team that has raised such a substantial amount for such a worthy cause (lets face it - Cancer will impact on every one of us directly or indirectly) and incredible from a personal perspective to have achieved what I never would have imagined possible - swimming in the ocean (actually swimming for more than 25 metres full stop!). The whole group is made up of others like me - so not only is the cause worthy but what you have created is so immediately life changing for so many of us, I thank you.

I also wanted to make a special mention of Fi and Matt. Fi took out so much time to help a couple of us out with ocean confidence and the both of them were inspirational, supportive and wonderfully positive supporters/mentors to be around. They made a difference. They deserve recognition for that (Matt's always friendly face and Fi's continual ripper calling out of 'Hey Di!!!!' with monster positivity, will be two of my highlights)

Thanks again - and may you continue to raise millions!!!