Sam Whiteside has raised a lot of cash for the Arthritis Society.

The local teen who attempted a second crossing of Lake Ontario this past summer has raised over $50,000 in the past two years.

In 2007 she raised $32,449.65. For her first attempt in 2006 she raised $25,090.29.

"The Arthritis Society was very pleased," said Sam's mother Pam Whiteside. "Even though Sam did not complete the swim, she was still able to make a huge impact in helping spread the word about juvenile arthritis and research for this disease."

Sam Whiteside was in town this past weekend timing at a local Aces swim meet.

"I still don't really know what happened," she said when asked if she knows why she abandoned the lake crossing at the half way point last August.

"There is no use really dwelling on it."

Right now Whiteside is swimming with the Guelph Griffins swim club as she studies at university.

She also has some plans for 25 and 32 km races this summer.

And in perhaps a few years, she said, she may make another attempt at breaking the Lake Ontario crossing record.