(Photo: Jodi at Deep Eddy Mile Swim with Sandy Neilson, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and former world record-holder)

Colin's Hope Mission: Our mission is to raise water safety awareness to prevent children from drowning.

As I grew up, I was fortunate to have a strong background in a swimming culture. My father, Sammy Oates, Sr and sister, Toni Oates, went to Deaf Olympics and won medals. I was on "Little Longhorns" aquatic team with my sister and brother for eight years. Upon my upbringings, 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 there were people that did indeed not know how to swim. It seemed scary. 

My daughter, Sami Jo is currently working at the YMCA as a swimming lesson instructor/coordinator. She would come home and share stories about free swimming lessons for children through Safe Kids Austin, where Sami Jo volunteered.

Nowadays, I know that there are many people, especially children, who have yet learned how to swim, due to lack of access to water safety programs and awareness.

I want to do something that would help to broaden the awareness of safety programs and initiatives. I have two grandchildren, 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.