Big Swim from N.B. to P.E.I. attracts 12-year-old girl aiming for record

A 12-year-old Riverview, New Brunswick girl hopes to set a new Guinness World Record on Sunday with a feat that would leave many exhausted just thinking about it — swimming from her home province to Prince Edward Island.

Brooklyn Douthwright is one of 54 people participating in the Big Swim across the Northumberland Strait this weekend.

The event raises money for a special camp for sick children in Nova Scotia called Brigadoon Village.

If Douthwright completes the 15-kilometre swim, she will be the youngest person to do so.

Last year a 14-year-old from Nova Scotia did it.

Douthwright is a competitive swimmer who usually spends 18 hours a week in the pool. She admits, as Sunday gets closer, she's getting a little nervous about swimming in water with tides and currents.

"Well, the pool there's walls, and like, you can push off the walls, but in open water, like, there's like the waves and salt water which is pretty gross, like the taste. I hope I can do it," she said. 

Douthwright will set off on her swim Sunday at 10:15 a.m. from Cape Jourimain. Her swim coach will be paddling in a kayak next to her acting as a spotter.

Douthwright says her mother and father will be part of a group of about 25 people waiting for her in Borden-Carleton P.E.I.

So far, Brooklyn's raised almost $1,300 for Brigadoon Village.