Aqsurfer - 9-26-2015 at 08:54 AM
Hola Nomads,
ISLA/Southern California lifeguards are heading back to Punta Abreojos this year and we need your help - please donate. Each year, I try to raise
funds to cover costs - transportation, food and lodging for our annual trip to Baja. Our fundraising target is between $1,500-2,000 USD - we can reach
our target if 75 Nomads donate $20. Big heartfelt thanks to all who have helped us in the past.
Some great news - we were able to get an Automatic Electronic Defribilator (AED) and first aid gear that we will be donating to the Desert Hawks
Ambulance Service. AEDs are a critical piece of equipment in life/death situations and we are certain it will help save lives in Baja. The Desert
Hawks do does amazing work and we are proud to support their efforts.
Our group this year will consist of 15 lifeguards and lots of vehicles to get everyone and our gear to Punta Abreojos. Additionally, we are usually
loaded up with lots of donated rescue equipment and surf gear/apparel to give away. We will be arriving late on Saturday Oct 3. The training program
on the beach will be held Oct 5-7. If you are in the area come on by and join us.
Last year's program in Bahia Asuncion was a great success. We worked with 20 people in the senior lifeguard group and approximately 65 kids -
fantastic turnout and great enthusiasm. This year we are excited to be returning to Abreojos.
Three years ago I began collaborating with the International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA). ISLA is made up of a great group of professional
lifeguards that take time off work and volunteer to train people, no big salaries here - we just want to help save lives around the world - we
currently have programs in Baja/Mexico, Chile, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Macedonia, and the US. Many more global sites are in the works.
ISLA is registered 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible in the US. If you would like to donate via Paypal to the Punta
Abreojos effort, you can do so via the ISLA website (link below), donate tab is on the upper and lower right side of the homepage. Please make sure
and note/state that your donation is for the Baja program in the Paypal "message" box. Funds raised will only be used to cover transportation, food,
lodging, and lifeguard/first aid equipment for the 2015 Abreojos trip. I will post an accounting here after the trip for complete transparency.
ISLA Homepage
http://www.islasurf.org/
ISLA Paypal link is located on the homepage at top/right (Donate) or bottom/right (Paypal). Both tabs will redirect you to the ISLA Paypal. Please use
the paypal "message" box to note that your donation is for the Baja Lifeguard program.
Please donate and share this post with Baja friends and family.
If anyone has questions or comments or would like to make in-kind donations, please post here. Finally, I would like to extend an open invitation to
everyone to join us in Punta Abreojos Oct 5-7. Gracias Nomads.
Thanks again to all the Nomads and Baja folk that have helped our efforts.
Peace,
Aaron
[Edited on 9-28-2015 by Aqsurfer]
[Edited on 9-30-2015 by Aqsurfer]
rts551 - 9-26-2015 at 09:13 AM
Aaron:
13,400 members on the Facebook page Talk Baja.
shari - 9-26-2015 at 10:20 AM
thanks for all you have done for the youth in our villages Aaron...so many more kids are in the water now and safer too! C'mon Nomads...$20 buys you
what these days? Donate to this very worthy cause...por favor!
Aqsurfer - 9-28-2015 at 09:35 AM
Hola rts551 and Shari,
Thanks for the great idea and kind words. The count down is on and we are gearing up for our departure on Saturday.
If you can please help us out and donate - no salaries or expensive offices at ISLA. We are all volunteer and cover our costs out of pocket or
through donations.
Peace,
Aaron
Aqsurfer - 9-30-2015 at 12:46 PM
Hola Nomads,
One last request - if you can please donate. We leave Saturday morning for Abreojos. I would like to invite folks to come out to the beach
Monday-Wednesday afternoons to help out or simply watch the locals in action.
I will be posting a trip report and accounting here after the trip.
Gracias Nomads.
Peace,
Aaron