Swim4Elise Foundation Raises Awareness
RUN4ELISE RESCHEDULED
Due to the severe weather forecast, the Swim4Elise Foundation has worked with the City of Southlake, Gateway Church, and our sponsors to reschedule the Run4Elise to Saturday, May 4. This event will continue to include Southlake DPS. We are also adding the Office of Emergency Management to the event! The Run4Elise website, registration site, volunteer site and the auction site will be updated to reflect these changes. Get your “Use Your Voice for Good, Believe” shirt and swag bag early at packet pick up tomorrow, Friday, April 5 from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, otherwise, you have to wait until May!
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KIRK FILLERS
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FOTOSPORT
Texas is one of the deadliest states for childhood drownings and the Swim4Elise foundation wants Texas families to be educated and informed. In 2018, Texas lost 91 children to fatal drowning, 13 in the Tarrant County community alone. For every fatal drowning, there are five to eight nonfatal drownings. Contrary to popular belief, drowning is often silent and regardless of age or skill level, water safety messaging applies. Driven by the spirit of solidarity with families who have lost a loved one and the fatal drowning of our 13-year-old daughter Elise Cerami during her club swim practice in 2016, the Swim4Elise foundation remains committed to its quest of water safety awareness.
On Saturday, April 6, the foundation will host the third annual Run4Elise, which supports its FREE daycare outreach program, scholarship fundraiser and the Elise Cerami Memorial Fund. In 2019, the foundation expanded its scholarship program to include 10 counties in and around DFW. To date, over 50 athletes have completed the application process, sharing their thoughts on water safety. In essay after essay, swimmers revealed that although they spend countless hours in the water, each are minimally prepared for an emergency. Most applicants said they have never heard of an EAP (emergency action plan), let alone ever practiced one. Like a school fire drill, but in water, our mission includes encouraging school and club aquatic programs to implement an EAP that includes both facility personnel and athletes.
Run4Elise will take place at Gateway Church in Southlake. The 1-mile walk starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9:00 a.m. Along with sponsors, the City of Southlake will partner with the Swim4Elise foundation to provide effective layers of water safety education. Local first responders will be present and grant access to their safety vehicles, race participants will get an up-close look at a CareFlite helicopter and interaction with the crew and families will love the ice cream truck. Also, kids in strollers are FREE! Though we’re not giving away children; we are giving away $30,000 in swimming scholarships and funding for lifeguard certifications. Elise Cerami Memorial recipients and Swim4Elise alumni will be recognized at 7:30 a.m. during the event.
Register online for the event at Run4Elise.com or on race-day starting at 6:30 a.m. The foundation is also hosting a silent auction on its website the week prior to the run; live bidding will then transition to the event. A virtual race option for those with scheduling conflicts or out of town plans. Either way, all participants will be provided water safety education and materials.
For more details on the Run4Elise event and the foundation’s mission and efforts visit Swim4Elise.com or listen to this informative podcast, “Southlake This Week with John Huffman,” highlighting the event.
About Swim4Elise:The Swim4Elise foundation honors the life of Elise Cerami by creating a positive wave of change while raising water safety awareness through swimming scholarships, promotion of lifeguard certifications and community outreach education. Our message and “Believe Mission” are filled with purpose and promise, with the ultimate goal of protecting your loved ones.
