‘Swimming Grandma’ Saves Her Best for Last

Eight “Fourth of July’s” ago, Sandy Abeler jumped into Cedar Lake for the

first of her swims for scholarships. The nearly half-mile trek across the lake

to Camp Lebanon’s shores took just under thirty minutes and raised $2000.

At age eighty-five, she became the oldest known person to make the swim.

On July 5 of this year, the now ninety-two-year-young “Swimming Grandma” took the plunge for the last time,

coming out of a one-year “retirement” to make her seventh and final swim. The thirty-five minutes might have

been a bit slower than past years, but the effort proved to be her best. She and 229 sponsors raised an amazing

$24,621.69 to help send kids to Camp Lebanon. The goal was to top her last swim in 2017 when she and her

friends generated $16,500 for scholarships.

“I swam it with joy and gratitude,” Sandy beamed. “I was thankful I could do it. I remember the kids saying we

were halfway, and I groaned, ‘Is that all?’ But I was determined, and I made it!”

The promise of Philippians 4:13 kept her going. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength to

do it,” Sandy quoted, using her own paraphrase. Swimming with family also provided a boost. In all, there were

twenty-five escorts, including four of her six “kids,” several grandchildren, three nieces, and two great-grands,

including six-year-old Raina, the youngest to ever to make the swim. Also among the swimmers was Sophie

Jones, a ten-year-old Summer Fun Family Weekend camper who raised $276 at a lemonade stand to support

Grandma Sandy. Three pontoons, one speedboat, two kayaks, one canoe, and a lone paddleboard filled out the

protective flotilla.

Thanks to the amazing efforts of Sandy and her friends, many youth and families have found their way to Camp.

In the seven swims, nearly $70,000 has been raised, enough to help as many as 700 kids experience the “funnest

fun” while hearing the “Good News!” of Jesus.

“I did what I could,” Sandy explained, referencing her life verse recorded in Mark 14:8. “I’m not a Sunday School

teacher or choir director anymore,

but I can swim. Whenever I get the

chance, I like to encourage others

that if we all do what we can do,

we’ll reach our goals and be a

blessing to others.”

Next year, “Swimming Grandma” will

need to find another avenue to help

kids get to Camp Lebanon. With a big

heart and strong faith, Camp’s #1

cheerleader will no doubt find a way.

Thanks for helping make the swim a

great success. And praise be to God,

who rules from sea to sea! (Ps. 72:8)