A 17-year-old Toronto-area girl plans to swim across Lake Ontario this Saturday, retracing the original route of swimmer Marilyn Bell.

Rebekah Boscariol of Markham will swim across Lake Ontario, from Niagara-On-The-Lake to Marilyn Bell Park in Toronto.

She will be raising funds for Toronto's Hospital For Sick Children. That's where her younger sister, Sophia, had heart surgery last month. Sophia, 4, was born with a hole in her heart, which was repaired by the doctors of The Cardiac Care Unit at Sick Kids.

Rebekah is hoping to raise $20,000 for the Cardiac Unit. So far she has raised $10,000.

The swim, which will start at 7 p.m., will be 52 km long in frigid waters and waves. Rebekah hopes to complete the swim in less than 21 hours.

During her swim, she will be accompanied by four boats, 18 volunteers and rescue personnel to accompany her on.

Rebekah is in her ninth year of competitive swimming and is a member of the Markham Aquatic Club. She is the eldest of six children and is a student at St. Augustine Catholic High School in Markham.

Donations are welcomed at www.swimthedistance.com