Paralympian Carol Cooke gets in pool one last time for MS
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Paralympic gold medallist Carol Cooke reflects on the past 20 years of fundraising, life-changing moments and the her final 24-hour swim for MS.
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Carol Cooke has a shopping list of achievements to her name, including three Paralympic gold medals, and an Order of Australia medal.
But she says that her proudest achievement is the 20 years spent fighting MS.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Cooke’s life took many paths, from working as a police officer, and becoming a national swimming champion before moving to Australia.
After settling in Melbourne with her husband, Cooke competed in the 1998 Masters Swimming Nationals.
She woke the next day with double vision and balancing issues.
An array of tests later diagnosed her with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 36-years-old.
She was told, bluntly, to go home and get her affairs in order before becoming incapacitated.
Instead, she founded the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim, now held annually across Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and NSW since 2001.
The 2020 event will be the last she organises.
The MS 24 Hour Mega swim brings together swimmers of all ages in a 24-hour relay event, in support for those living with MS.
Cooke said she would captain the ‘Yarra Babes’ team in Fitzroy for the last time and swim alongside 400 people participating in the event.
“Funny enough it (Mega Swim) was meant to be a one off … here we are, 20 years and 20 swims later,” she said.
The swim raises money for the MS Go for Gold scholarships, financial assistance program.
It has raised $9 million in the past two decades.
“The Go for Gold scholarships gives people living with MS the change to follow a dream,” Cooke said.
“The Fitzroy pool itself has raised over $3 million in that 19 years.”
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The The MS 24 Hour Mega swim is on February 28.