Did you know that 78 Texas children lost their lives to a fatal drowning last year? Or that 5x as many children survived a non-fatal drowning incident? This year, Texas has already lost 70 children and we are only partway through this long, hot summer!  As of August 1, we are tracking AHEAD of the fatal Texas child drowning we saw last year. This is NOT good news.

Think about this, imagine being at a school and watching 2 big school buses pull up empty. The seats on the bus SHOULD have been filled with happy, healthy children. Instead, those kids were lost to a preventable drowning. 

These drownings are PREVENTABLE, yet DROWNING IS STILL THE NUMBER 1 CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL INJURY RELATED DEATH FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 and A LEADING CAUSE FOR AGES 1-14.

As we acknowledge the 10 year Anniversary of Colin's drowning (June 13th) and the 10 year anniversary of the formation of Colin's Hope (August), I re-commit myself to doing all that I can to live Colin's Hope and its mission to prevent drowning as I once again take on the role of Athlete Ambassador to prevent drowning. This year, I will again make an amazing 10K journey in the Colin's Hope Got2Swim Lake Austin 10K on August 17th relaying with my wife, Keri and friend, Amanda. Swimming for a higher purpose is just awesome. The training is pretty much done and now it's time to get the pledgeraising raising started. Thank you for joining this journey however you are able.

I honor and celebrate all the children who have lost their lives to a fatal drowning or who have survived a non-fatal drowning. My angels are Colin, Annabelle, Averie, Abbey, Brayden, Brandon, Carissa, Casey, Cayla, Collin, Connor, Drennen, Elise, Emma, Emmy, Grace, Greyson, Jack, Jasper, Jayce, Josh, Joshua and Christian, Levi, Kareem, Ken, Mason, Parker, Paxton. Pauly, Peyton, Rees, Ryan, Sarah, Stewie, Tristan, Wyatt, Xander and Zachary (all who will be angels guardianing us from above) and also for Abby Grace, Berk, Brady, Clay, Wyatt and Jack (who survived non-fatal drownings).

This year, my goal is to raise at least $1444.44 for Colin's Hope. $1000 each plus $44.44 as I turned 44 on July 3rd. These funds will mean that more Preschool children can get swim safety classes and swim lessons, more families will receive water safety educational materials and that life jacket loaner stations at area lakes will be re-stocked.  Look at our brand new Water Safety with Colin & Friends Program! These funds will definitely help get this evidence based program to more children and families- ultimately changing cultural water safety norms and creating safer behaviors around water- THIS WILL PREVENT DROWNINGS!

Thank you to all who have donated over the last 10 years and who will support again - it means so much and will help save lives!

Please pledge your support for drowning prevention by making a donation of any amount to my pledge page. Every dollar raised means drownings prevented and lives saved. Thank you for sharing the vision of a world where children do not drown.

I challenge you to see how much you know about water safety by doing any or all of the below.

1) Taking and sharing the Colin's Hope Water Safety Quiz at www.colinshope.org/quiz

2) Talk to your kids, friends and families about water safety and make water safety rules for pool, lake and beach outings.

3) Change your behaviors to be safeR around water.

As Colin used to say, Have the "Best Day Ever" and Thank you for cheering us on in some way to make a difference.

Water Safety Warrior

Alissa