There was a time when the very sight of open water gripped Emily Epp with fear.

Now the 17-year-old from Kelowna is about to take on one of the most renowned and challenging swims on the planet.

Epp will leave next week for Britain where she plans to 害羞草研究所攁 distance of 34 kilometres害羞草研究所攆rom Dover, England to Calais, France.

Suffice to say, Epp has come a long way since an unnerving experience in the water as a toddler.

害羞草研究所淲hen I was little, I was absolutely terrified of water,害羞草研究所� Epp recalled. 害羞草研究所淚 got hit by a wave once in Tofino and wouldn害羞草研究所檛 go back in. I would crawl on my dad害羞草研究所檚 (Rob) head and scream, just to stay away from the water any way I could.

害羞草研究所淏ut one day, something flipped,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淣ow being in the lake, in open water, I just feel free, I害羞草研究所檓 usually excited to go in. Looking back at how I once felt about it, I guess it seems like a bit of a miracle.害羞草研究所�

When she climbs into the channel waters later this month, the swim will be about much more than conquering fear or achieving a feat most people can only imagine.

With her 15-year-old sister, Elan, foremost in her thoughts, Epp will be raising funds for . Canuck Place has provided years of care for Elan who lost all of her motor control after being stricken with a viral infection when she was just 18 months old.

害羞草研究所淐anuck Place has helped Elan so much, since she started going there she害羞草研究所檚 become the happiest person ever,害羞草研究所� Epp said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so meaningful what they do, they give help to anyone who needs it.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檝e helped my family so much, we wanted to give back. I already had (swimming) the channel in mind. Doing it for Canuck place was automatic.害羞草研究所�

A competitive swimmer with the Kelowna AquaJets since the age of 10, Epp first seriously considered taking on the challenge of the English Channel in the summer 2014.

Inspired by the feat of her mentor, coach and friend, Brent Hobbs, who crossed the channel in 2008, Epp害羞草研究所檚 first major long distance swim was the 2.1-kilometre Across the Lake Swim in 2012.

In 2013, Epp bumped up to the seven-kilometre mark in the Rattlesnake Island Swim.

Then a year later, when she completed her first four-hour swim, her visions of an English Channel crossing really began to take shape.

In her latest and most gruelling pre-channel test, Epp swam around Bowen Island last month in cold, rough conditions, a 30-kilometre journey which took just under 11 hours.

Epp felt ill and nauseous for much of the last three hours of the swim, but wasn害羞草研究所檛 about to concede defeat to the elements or her own fatigue.

害羞草研究所淚 was sick and tired and towards the end I was just going through the motions,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭hen Brent hopped in with me for the last hour and that helped. It wasn害羞草研究所檛 a question of whether I was going to finish. It was motivating to know this was helping me for the channel swim. I had passed the test and it felt really satisfying.害羞草研究所�

Point-to-point, from Dover to Calais, the English Channel is 34 kilometres across, but swimmers often have to cover as much or more than twice the distance, depending on factors such as the current and weather.

Hobbs said Epp害羞草研究所檚 years of swimming with the AquaJets and her extensive training in Okanagan Lake should have her well prepared for the task ahead.

害羞草研究所淗er experience with the Aquajets provides her with good swim technique, speed and endurance,害羞草研究所� said Hobbs, who nine years ago swam the channel in 10 hours 43 minutes. 害羞草研究所淪he will require those elements to break through the rough currents that lie in wait for her off the coast of France. That is where most channel attempts fail.

害羞草研究所淓mily has also put in the work to prepare for her swim. She has swum countless hours in the lake between May and November over the last two years.害羞草研究所�

While the physical demands of the swim are evident, Hobbs said 90 per cent of the challenge it presents is psychological.

害羞草研究所淭o that end, (Emily) must remain focused for her entire journey,害羞草研究所� Hobbs said. 害羞草研究所淭hat means believing in herself and visualizing success every stroke she takes until she touches the sands of France.害羞草研究所�

And what is the most important piece of advice Hobbs has for Epp as she prepares for the most profound swim of her life ?

害羞草研究所淗ave fun,害羞草研究所� said Hobbs, who will accompany Epp to Britain and during the swim. 害羞草研究所淚t is the English Channel after all. It is the most storied seafaring crossing on the planet. It is the world害羞草研究所檚 top marathon swim with over 150 years of history.

害羞草研究所淵ou have done the preparation and your community, province and country is behind you. Remember why you are doing this害羞草研究所攔aising money for Canuck Place which cares for kids like Elan. Enjoy the moment and stay focused.害羞草研究所�

As for Emily害羞草研究所檚 mom, Cheryl Epp admits there are some nerves attached to her daughter害羞草研究所檚 upcoming adventure but those are outweighed by the sense of gratitude and anticipation felt by the entire Epp family.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a big commitment for everyone, all of the family and all those who have helped her along the way,害羞草研究所� Cheryl said of Emily, one of three Epp sisters. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very excited that she害羞草研究所檚 been able to realize this goal. To see how far she害羞草研究所檚 been able to push herself has really been quite amazing, to see her determination (at Bowen Island) was incredible.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e proud of her and the cause she害羞草研究所檚 swimming for,害羞草研究所� added Cheryl. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 mentally and physically ready. Now we just wait. We害羞草研究所檙e hoping her swim is successful but even if it isn害羞草研究所檛, it害羞草研究所檒l be an amazing experience.害羞草研究所�

For a time, the prospects of swimming the English Channel seemed a bit surreal for Emily. Only recently has the gravity of what she害羞草研究所檚 about to attempt started to settle in.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 nervous, for sure,害羞草研究所� Emily said. 害羞草研究所淚t was kind of hard to take it all in at first, I was just brushing it off, saying I害羞草研究所檒l be fine.

害羞草研究所淣ow I know how challenging it害羞草研究所檚 going to be, Bowen showed me that. You need to prepare for the waves, the swells, the currents, jellyfish, fatigue and sickness, the currents at the end. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot to be ready for.

害羞草研究所淏ut I害羞草研究所檝e had so much support in getting prepared, that害羞草研究所檚 really been a big part of what害羞草研究所檚 kept me motivated. I害羞草研究所檓 excited and nervous at the same time.害羞草研究所�

In addition to Brent Hobbs, Emily cites the ongoing support from several members of the Okanagan Masters Swim Club, including , Phred Martin and Jennifer Leach-Trask, as well as Rod Craig from West Vancouver who swam the Channel in 2010.

Emily is second in the queue in this year害羞草研究所檚 group of swimmers and depending on conditions, will most likely attempt her crossing between July 16 and 20.

For successful swims of the channel害羞草研究所攁bout 10 per cent of all attempts害羞草研究所攖he average time is around 15 hours. Hobbs estimates Emily害羞草研究所檚 time, again depending on conditions, will be in the 10 to 13 hour range

As of Wednesday this week, Emily had raised more than $16,000 for Canuck Place. A Vancouver-based foundation, Kids helping Kids, is matching all monies raised, dollar for dollar.

To make a donation go to .