As you may know, the organization Colin's Hope Got 2 Swim 10K's annual event (Virtual & In-Person) will host at Lake Austin on September 1st, 2021. I am proud to say that I signed up for this event third time! Every stroke, I plead that Water Safety helps spread water safety awareness and reduce or stop children from drowning.
Background: As I grew up, I was fortunate to have a strong background in a swimming culture. I was on the "Little Longhorns" aquatic team with my sister and brother for eight years. Upon my upbringing, I always swam with my family in many places, such as pools, rivers, lakes, and oceans. I assumed that everyone I saw at those places knew how to swim. As I got older, I realized that some people did indeed not know how to swim. It seemed scary.
Nowadays, I know that many people, especially children, have not learned how to swim due to a lack of water safety programs and awareness.
I want to do something that would help to broaden the awareness of safety programs and initiatives. I have three grandchildren and a great-nephew, and I would want them to swim safely.
This 10K Open Water Swim shall add to my pleasure of the swimming challenge, at the same time to raise the vision of the water safety programs and awareness.
Did you know that drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death for children under 5 and a leading cause for ages 1-14? Or that drowning is fast, silent AND preventable?
Last year, Texas alone lost 81 children (and may adults) to FATAL, PREVENTABLE Drowning, while 8x as many have survived a non-fatal drowning. That number should be ZERO!
This year (as of today, August 31), we have already lost at least 64 Texas children (and many adults also) to PREVENTABLE drowning in all kinds of water- pools, bathtubs, ponds, buckets, beaches, lakes and rivers.
What does Colin's Hope do with the funds raised by our Athlete Ambassadors?
Colin's Hope uses the funds raised by Athlete Ambassadors to educate parents/caregivers and children to be safer around the water all year round through proven progams. We distribute 75,000 water safety education cards each year, sponsor swim lessons and water safety education lessons, stock life jacket loaner stations and serve in leadership positions locally, state and nationwide. The work that Colin's Hope does ABSOLUTELY saves lives, changes behaviors to be safer around water and prevents drownings. If we continue this work, together, WE CAN END DROWNING.
How can YOU help?
1) We invite you to be part of our athlete ambassador team, join this journey to prevent drowning. You can run, bike, swim, walk, skip, hula hoop..whatever you love to do and do it to help Colin's Hope prevent drowning. Together, we will do this in honor of Colin and all of the children lost to a fatal drowning and those who have survived a non-fatal drowning and their families who courageously work every day to prevent drowning so that no family will have to experience what they have experienced. It will take ALL of US to change the culture of water safety. We dream of a day when kids learn about water safety when they learn not to touch the stove or to wear a seat belt or to stop, drop and roll. I know we can get there if we work together.
2) Remember that DROWNING IS Fast. Silent. AND Preventable. And please tell your family and friends.
3) Please Become a Water Guardian. Take and share the Colin's Hope Water Safety Quiz at www.colinshope.org/quiz
Hand over heart thank you for your support!
As Colin used to say- Have the Best Day Ever!
The Team at Colin's Hope
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Deb Skjeveland | 08/29/2021 | $26.06 | Good luck to Jodi with hugs! | Fallon Brizendine Mowl | 08/26/2021 | $50.00 | Thank you!!!! You rock! | Anonymous Friend | 08/26/2021 | $21.65 | <3 | Jodi Oates | 08/25/2021 | $20.00 | (Brenda Oates) Love you. | Candace McCullough | 08/17/2021 | $50.00 | Thank you for your wonderful work! Hugs! | Anonymous Friend | 08/17/2021 | $15.00 | with love | Miranda/Fletch/Ez Kuehne | 08/16/2021 | $26.06 | Rosy Mikos | 08/14/2021 | $30.00 | Laurie Drucker | 08/14/2021 | $54.13 | Happy to support this Jodi!! | Marilyn Swanson | 08/14/2021 | $54.13 | Patty Kuglitsch | 08/14/2021 | $50.00 | For Jodi's love for swimming. I am here to support her goal in raising awareness of swimming safety. I love you, Jodi! | Deb Kuglitsch | 08/13/2021 | $26.06 | For Jodi's love in swimming and in all children's safety | Anonymous Friend | 08/13/2021 | $50.00 | Jennifer Ortega | 08/13/2021 | $40.00 | I love you! |
| Total | $513.09 | ||