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Blind swimmer to cross busy Strait of Georgia in guide dog fundraiser

Scott Rees will wear a headset that allows him to receive instructions from a support boat.
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Scott Rees shown swimming in English Bay on Aug. 6, 2016. ALEXANDRA MacCARTHY

A blind North Vancouver man will swim across the Strait of Georgia to raise money for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind.

On July 22, Scott Rees will enter the water at Davis Bay between Sechelt and Roberts Creek and emerge 30 kilometres later at Piper’s Lagoon north of Nanaimo.

The distance is similar to the English Channel crossing and California’s Santa Catalina Island swim.

Rees, 39, has a genetic eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa that has caused a gradual loss of sight over the past 15 years.

“Although I can still see some light I have lost all functional sight, which has necessitated a significant transition in my mindset, career, and personal pursuits,” said Rees, who is an engineer.

Rees is already an accomplished athlete, having won the 2015 and 2016 Bay Challenge — a 9.6 km open-water swim between English Bay and North Vancouver. He came second in the event in 2017.

He received his first guide dog, Caleb, in July 2021.

“Kaleb quickly became a support for me and has greatly improved my independent mobility, which is something I had lost previously. He is also an integral part of my family, bringing joy to me, my wife, Alexandra, our two young children, and everyone he meets,” Rees said.

“While vision loss has closed the doors on some of my hobbies, I’ve been lucky to have swimming as an activity that I can continue to enjoy. In my childhood I competed regularly in short distance swim racing, and more recently I have tackled longer open water endurance swims.”

Rees wears a waterproof headset that allows him to receive directions from a support boat.