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Fellow Humans, swimmers, supporters, family, and friends,
My name is Andrew Packer, and this summer I will be swimming the North Channel from Ireland to Scotland in partnership with Tankproof to raise funds to support the amazing work they do to promote water safety and access to aquatics for children across the US.
Those who know me best know that my favorite place to be outside is in the water. Whether it is long hours in the San Francisco Bay, Wednesday afternoon water polo at Cal, or even just floating around in the neighborhood pool, I have always found peace, comfort, and fulfillment in the water. To feel comfortable and at home in these spaces is a privilege I’ve been granted through no doing of my own, and I’m on a mission with Tankproof to make these spaces safe and welcoming to all.
One of the greatest barriers to access in aquatics is simply the ability to swim, and the disparities in aquatics are fundamentally economic and racial in nature. According to the CDC, drowning deaths for Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for White people, and Indigenous drowning death rates are 2 times higher than the rates for White people(1). In swimming pools alone, Black children ages 10-14 drown at rates 7.6 times higher than White children (2). 64% of Black children do not know how to swim, compared to 45% of Hispanic/Latino and 40% of White children (3). 79% of children in households with incomes less than $50,000 have little to no swimming skills (4). Drowning is the second leading cause of injury & death for children ages 1-14(5), and the risk is not equally distributed.
Water Safety is a Right, not a privilege. So why isn’t it treated like one?
There’s much work to be done. Tankproof is addressing these drowning statistics by increasing access to swim lessons in disadvantaged communities. According to the CDC, just ONE formal swim lesson can reduce drowning risk by 88% (6), and per the USA Swimming Foundation, 76% of children who cannot swim report that they would be more interested in swimming if they saw a talented swimmer that looked like them(7). Tankproof provides "access, equity, and opportunity through swimming lessons . . . to make communities safer and even save lives." We travel across the country to historically underserved communities and provide week-long swim courses to children who typically do not have access to pools or the ability to pay for swim lessons, taught by members of the local community under the guidance of certified Tankproof professionals.
Having worked with the program for the past 4 years, I can attest to the impact this has on children's lives. I've had the pleasure of watching several kids with traumatic histories near the water grow comfortable floating, immersing, and even jumping in the pool. The work is nothing short of lifesaving. In 2024, the program will visit 10 cities across the country, providing swim lessons to 400+ kids. During the week, students receive 5 swim lessons, swim apparel (caps & goggles), and food, as well as the unadulterated fun, freedom, and serotonin release that comes with swimming.
As you can imagine, funding a program of this scale isn't easy, which is why I'm setting the very ambitious goal of raising $15,000 with your help to provide week-long Tankproof sessions across the country. Swimming from Ireland to Scotland should take ~15,000 strokes (contact me for the math on this one) - let's raise $1 for every stroke taken! Every donation helps. ~$37 pays for 1 day of swim lessons, while $185 pays for an entire week-long session (city dependent). Donations are tax deductible. With your help, we can take a small step towards changing the tides, and making the water SAFE and accessible to all. Help us sink the stats and join us on our journey today!
EVERY DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE!!!
Photos below are provided by Al Juarique and Tankproof, with permission.
Stroke Math = 10 strokes/25 yds, ~70.4 25yd laps in a mile (1760yds), a 22 mile swim w/ 704 strokes/mile = 15,488 strokes
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