Riverview girl hoping to be the youngest person to swim the Northumberland Strait

WATCH ABOVE: A Riverview girl wants to be the youngest person to swim the Northumberland Strait, and she is taking it on as part of a fundraiser. Global’s Brion Robinson reports.

POINTE-DU-CHENE, N.B. – A 12-year-old Riverview girl is hoping to make swimming history this weekend on the Northumberland Strait.

Brooklyn Douthwright wants to be the youngest person to swim across the Strait during the Big Swim fundraiser.

“I thought I was just ready now and see if I could do it and really challenge myself,” she said.

Douthwright says she had planned to do the swim when she was 13 but her plans changed when she watched last year’s swim.

“Last year I saw a 14-year-old Cali Bruce do it,” she said. “I wanted to do it when I was 13 but I thought I was ready now when I’m 12.”

The nearly 15 kilometre swim goes from Cape Jourimain, N.B. to Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

Money raised from the annual fundraiser goes towards Brigadoon Village, a camp to help children and families dealing with chronic illness.

Fifty-four swimmers are scheduled to take place in this year’s swim, which is a record for the most swimmers to participate in the event.

Kayakers also accompany swimmers across the strait.

Douthwright’s coach, Dale Doucette, will be paddling alongside. He says she’s a strong swimmer, but cramping could be a problem.

“The cold water can attribute to that and fatigue can attribute to that,” he said. “But if we take the precautions necessary to prevent that it shouldn’t be too much of a concern.”

Douthwright’s parents have been supporting her along the way.

Her mother, Shannon, hopes her hard work and dedication inspires others.

“I’m nervous, apprehensive and lots of sleepless nights but very proud she would want to take something like this on,” she said.