Please join me in supporting Colin's Hope by donating to this year's Got2Swim Fundraiser. Colin's Hope is such an important non-profit in our community. They serve us all in ways you may be unaware. One example here in my community of Lakeway, is the Life Jacket Loaner station in Lakeway City Park. (As I type this, there are 2 people whose bodies have not been recovered, from a drowning near that very cove in Lake Travis) We will never know how many people do not drown because of that loaner station. This is so important in our community with the Colorado River running through it.
I swam in the inaugural Got2Swim. I swam 4 miles in Lake Austin and decided I never needed to do that again. However, I have remained as a volunteer and supporter ever since. I am participating as a Water Guardian this year on my SUP board. I have enjoyed paddling at sunrise with Alissa, Jen and Peri as training for this event. If you know me, you know I do not enjoy getting up that early, however, I like when I get on the water. I am able to get out of my comfort zone to support Colin's Hope - now more than ever.
Unfortunately, our family and close friends have been dealing with the loss of our 4 1/2 year old sweet boy Hendrix, grandson of our friend Kari, son to our "adopted daughter" Morgan, to a drowning in July. There are no words right now and it is even hard to share this news publicly. We never think it is going to happen to us or our family or someone that we love, then it did. Last year I illustrated a board book for Colin's Hope called WAIT FOR A GROWN UP. I have helped illustrate and create the swim cirriculum that Colin's Hope provides and uses to teach kids how to be safer around water. I am struggling to understand myself, how this happens.
"TamTam", which is what the boys call me, will be out there Wednesday on my SUP board, to honor our sweet Hendrix. The hardest part is moving forward in this moment. The water is still such a healing place for me and for that I am grateful.
Please consider giving big if you can. If you cannot, consider giving whatever amount you can and know that every dollar is appreciated.
Peace, Love & Light to you & yours,
Tammy Stanley
Water Guardian - Artist - Human
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 |
| MISTY HILLIN | 09/02/2021 | $412.26 | KIM HATTON | 09/02/2021 | $103.30 | IAN MOORE | 08/31/2021 | $20.00 | Laurie Higginbotham | 08/31/2021 | $51.80 | In loving memory of Hendrix. | Leslee Bassman | 08/31/2021 | $50.00 | Renee Lockey | 08/31/2021 | $250.00 | for Hendrix. love you, Tammy | Dawn Skinner | 08/31/2021 | $103.30 | Angelique Naylor | 08/31/2021 | $25.00 | With love for Tammy and Misty | Alissa Magrum | 08/30/2021 | $100.00 | Thank you for being my Water Guardian in the early mornings at sunrise. I know this Got2Swim journey is so very heavy and at the same time I hope there may be some healing too. So glad you will be out there and thank you for all you have given to Colin's Hope over all these years. Love you TamTam |
| Total | $1,115.66 | ||