Before CanToo
When Suzie entered the ocean at Coogee for her first ever ocean swim event, she admits she had no idea what she was doing.
It was November 2013. She was finishing a year of active cancer treatment, had “zero swim fitness”, and hadn’t yet learned how to pace herself. The challenge ahead? A 1km ocean swim.
Water safety volunteers spent much of the race paddling alongside Suzie, offering to rescue her. But she persevered, completing the swim and, unbeknownst to her at the time, taking the first strokes of a much bigger journey.
Just six years later, Suzie discovered CanToo and took on a 10km ocean swim. Along the way, she became an experienced surf lifesaver, spent many seasons volunteering in water safety, and became a CanToo swim Coach for the Bondi pod.
This year, more than a decade after that first 1km swim, Suzie found herself halfway into a 20km swim around Keppel Island when a powerful current had her swimming hard but feeling as though she was barely moving forward. This time, though, she knew exactly what to do.
Relax. Maintain her form. Trust her training. Keep going. And, perhaps most important, believe she could do it.
Suzie meets CanToo
In 2019, Suzie came across a newsletter advertising a CanToo 10km swim in Mana Island, Fiji. Drawn by the challenge of swimming a long distance and driven by the promise of a supportive, motivating community of swimmers, she signed up for her first CanToo program.
Her connection to CanToo’s cause, however, runs much deeper than a love of swimming. Diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer in her late thirties, Suzie underwent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and targeted therapy. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to have had access to these treatments and knows first-hand the difference research can make.
“Cancer research saved my life,” she says. As a breast cancer survivor with a background in research, Suzie has a unique perspective on both the life-changing impact of medical research and the challenges researchers face in securing the funding they need. Resultingly, supporting early and emerging researchers is particularly important to her.
Over the years, Suzie has connected with many CanToo-ers who have been affected by cancer in different ways, each bringing their own reason for getting involved. “There are so many people I’ve met through CanToo who have been affected by cancer in so many ways - but it’s not a prerequisite.” For Suzie, that is part of what makes CanToo so special - the community is united by a desire to make a difference, regardless of whether cancer has touched your own life.
Coaching at CanToo
For Suzie, being part of CanToo is about much more than swimming - it’s about helping others discover what they’re capable of. As a CanToo Coach, she loves sharing her knowledge, experience and passion for ocean swimming with CanToo-ers. “I am inspired by participants who show up, challenge themselves, support each other, and keep coming back, even when it is hard and sometimes scary.” Because, as Suzie knows, ocean swimming is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. It takes courage to show up, self-belief to keep going and a community around you to remind you what you’re capable of.
When it comes to ocean swimming, Suzie believes that learning to relax in the water and manage your breathing is key. “Don’t fight the water,” she says. A streamlined body position can make all the difference, helping swimmers move more efficiently and conserve energy so they can swim further, faster and with less effort.
Suzie's Swim around Keppel
This year, Suzie took on an incredible 20km swim around Keppel Island, Queensland, as a CanToo Beyond Challenge.
Getting to the start line was an achievement in itself for Suzie. She trained alongside a squad of experienced endurance swimmers, including two others who took on the Keppel swim, learning from their experience and gradually turning what once felt intimidating into something achievable.
“One thing I love about swimming is that it never gets boring - there is always more to learn and improve. With practice and persistence, you can continue to improve your stroke, avoid injury, know how to read and navigate ocean conditions, manage the cold, and push yourself to swim better, faster, longer - whatever your goal,” Suzie says.
As the swim approached, Suzie felt the weight of the commitment she had made - not just to herself, but to everyone who had generously backed her. Giving up simply wasn’t an option. Knowing the challenge would test her, she even prepared a ‘cheat sheet’ for her partner John to use if she hit a low point, with a mental preparation plan on one side and the names and messages of support from her donors on the other.
On the day, John paddled alongside her as her water safety support, as Suzie took on five hours in the water. Changing conditions meant the course was altered, but there were still plenty of tough moments. Drawing on her training, Suzie focused on maintaining her form and pushing through. And after five challenging hours, reaching the finish line was a moment she’ll never forget.
Suzie raised over $4,600 through her Swim around Keppel, contributing to an incredible $6,632 raised for Can Too Foundation overall. She recognises that fundraising can feel daunting at first but has found that being open about the challenges and setbacks along the way can be a powerful way to connect with her network. By sharing the reality of her journey, Suzie gave her family and friends the opportunity to rally behind her and help her achieve something hard. Their support became a huge source of motivation, helping her stay on track, even when it was tough.
Because of CanToo
Because of CanToo, Suzie has learnt that ocean swimming is as much about mindset as it is about physical preparation - you must show up and do the work, but more importantly, you need to believe in yourself and your ability. Suzie believes that this stems from surrounding yourself with a supportive community.
“CanToo is the most wonderful and supportive community. The name says it all. It’s not about being the strongest or fastest, it’s about challenging yourself while supporting others and a fantastic cause. CanToo is the community that believes you can and creates the space for you to continue to grow and achieve your goals, whatever they may be.”
As Suzie puts it, the ocean is ready for your next challenge whenever you are! Join our Summer Ocean Swim program or create your own Beyond Challenge today and find out just how far your self-belief, perseverance and passion for swimming can take you.
