(CMR) Swim for Sheillah (SFS), the charity started in honor of Sheillah Otando to teach nannies to swim, will be having a major fundraiser this month.
In June 2020, Sheillah Otando, a nanny, lost her life to drowning. She was comfortable in the water and had some knowledge of water safety. However, the difference between comfortable and proficient can be life or death – and for Sheillah, the lack of skills ended with her ultimate death by drowning.
Swim for Sheillah (SFS) was started in Sheillah’s honor by Dina Foley and Kristin Koopman of Sky Blue Aquatics. In September 2021, the Cayman Islands Government recognized SFS as a registered not-for-profit agency.
Initially focused on raising awareness and sponsoring free nanny and caregiver swim assessments, today, SFS also runs six-week-long, heavily subsidized swim lessons dedicated to the nannies of Cayman, who often don’t have access to these types of programs.
SFS is organizing a sponsored Tread for Sheillah fundraiser during National Water Safety Month on 22 May at 1:00 p.m. at the Camana Bay Sports Complex pool to ensure this important work continues.
To date, SFS has enrolled 200 participants in the 6-week courses teaching water safety and basic water rescue skills. Nannies can repeat the term to bolster their newfound confidence, improve their skills, and then receive a certificate recognizing them as competent swimmers.
These success stories inspired SFS to grow the number of swimmers who achieve their certificates and to have every nanny who takes the SFS course keep going until they are certified.
To support the vision of Swim for Sheillah, please donate here. https://www.skyblueaquatics.com/swim-for-sheillah/#donate-now
Donate $100 and provide one nanny access to a six-week swim course. Donate $300 and provide one nanny with three six-week courses.
Experience has shown that most nannies need three sessions to pass a full assessment, become competent swimmers and receive their certificate.
Donate $1500 and provide five nannies with three six-week courses.
Companies interested in being a corporate sponsor – $5000 – of the ‘Tread for Sheillah’ fundraiser should contact Kristin to discuss bespoke benefits.
The program currently runs out of the Lions Aquatic Centre pool, and people can:
-Register to participate in the sponsored ‘Tread for Sheillah” here.
-Learn more about the program: https://www.skyblueaquatics.com/caregiver-lessons .
-Book classes via WhatsApp (text only) Maureen on 526-0054 or email [email protected].
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