Swimmers Raise $32K in Pool After Storm Cancels Event

When safety officials canceled the 19.7-kilometer Rottnest Channel Swim due to dangerous winds, Team Saba had a choice: give up or get creative.

They chose the pool.

On Saturday morning, 43 swimmers gathered at Bold Park Aquatic Centre in Perth's western suburbs to complete their distances anyway. Nine teams, three duos, and one solo swimmer churned through lap after lap, transforming disappointment into determination.

The team swims for the Saba Rose Button Foundation, named after a young woman who became severely disabled following complications from a flu vaccination in 2010. The foundation supports Western Australian children with complex needs, providing therapy, specialized equipment, and respite for families.

"Everyone is really disappointed," said Kirsten Button, Saba's mother and the foundation's general manager. "But it's exciting too that we've actually put closure to all the hard work and training."

The swimmers understood why organizers made the tough call. Tim Trezise drove over three hours from Kojonup to compete, only to learn the event was off.

"It's really hectic and dangerous trying to get in and out of the boat," he explained. "We were really worried about our paddlers this weekend."

Samara Rogers traveled from Margaret River with similar acceptance. "That's the joys of open water swimming," she said. "You've got to take what you can get."

The Ripple Effect

The decision to swim anyway created something unexpected. What could have been a story of canceled plans became a testament to community resilience.

Supporters who donated to Team Saba got to see their contributions honored, not abandoned. Families who depend on the foundation's services will still receive help. And swimmers who trained for months still crossed their finish lines, just in chlorinated water instead of ocean waves.

The team has already raised more than $32,000 and continues pushing toward their $40,000 goal. Every dollar goes directly to children who need it most.

Weather forecasters can't control the ocean, but they couldn't stop these swimmers either.