NAMI Fundraiser
The Alpharetta Sharks are excited to be hosting our 5th Annual Fundraiser Swim Meet!! 100% of the money that is raised will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This swim meet is very special to us, and we are thrilled to now include Masters swimmers! You heard that right, parents you can swim in a summer league meet!! (You may even win a hot heat!) Please read this email in its entirety for more information about the meet, cost, and how to sign up.
A little history – In 2022, Darrell Salvia, a parent of 3 swimmers on our team died from suicide. He was diagnosed as Bipolar 2 late in life. His struggle and journey through mental illness began in his early teens. Darrell was 42 years old, married for 17 years, and adored by his family, friends, and even clients. Really, everyone he met loved his jolly, humorous, at-ease demeanor. These were the traits Darrell allowed people to see. But the ones who hurt the worst are also the ones who are best at hiding it.
In 2023, Kellum West, a previous Sharks swimmer and brother to 5 other Sharks died from suicide. He was 25 years old, and loved by his family and friends. He had a strong passion for music, and a great love of the Lord. His struggles began in high school and was a battle for him through his young adulthood. Though we may recognize the signs of someone struggling, intervening and offering meaningful help can be an overwhelming challenge.
Mental illness and suicide do not discriminate people or families, and they can manifest themselves in many different forms. It can spring chaos into any of our lives no matter our appearance, race, culture, status. That is why events like this meet are so crucial. They pull the curtains back a bit offering a safe place to talk about mental illness and suicide. They offer survivors a chance to heal alongside the community. This is also why supporting organizations like NAMI is so important - because access to mental healthcare isn’t always accessible, understandable, affordable, or easy for the person that needs it.
Date & Time – The swim meet is on June 8th (no practice that day). Check-in will begin at 5 pm and the meet will start promptly at 5:30. The pool will be open from 5 – 5:25 for anyone who would like to warm up.
How to sign up – Go into SwimTopia, click “meets”, then “signup calendar”, then “meet entry” for the NAMI swim meet, and sign up your swimmer.
- Please select up to 3 events for each swimmer. I will not be doing a line up, everyone can swim whatever events they would like! There will not be relays, only individual races.
- There is a race a parent event (for Sharks swimmers only) – The last event of the swim meet is “race a parent!”. Swimmers will get to race their parent in a 25 yard freestyle. I will put all your children in one heat with one empty lane for a parent to join. If you would like both parents to swim, please put that in the notes to coach so that I can make sure two lanes are free. Parent times are not eligible to break Sharks records… haha! But the memory that this event creates for the swimmers is totally worth it!
- Parents – If you want to also be included in the meet and swim other races, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/uBMCHMe6nsoGxLkG6. THIS FORM IS NOT FOR SHARKS SWIMMERS!!! It is only for parents who want to also swim some races!
Deadline to sign up– The last day to sign up for this meet is June 6th at midnight!! I will not be texting/emailing anyone who doesn’t declare for the meet. If you sign up, you’re in! Please don’t miss the deadline!
Cost to enter – There is an entry fee of $10 per swimmer. 100% of your admission fee into the meet will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Any donation beyond the entry fee is greatly appreciated. You will pay the fee in cash when you enter the swim meet.
Arrival times – This meet will be run a little differently than our other meets. There is NO bullpen for this meet and swimmers will line themselves up for races (coaches will be behind the blocks helping). Swimmers are welcome to sit with parents and the whole pool deck will be open.
- Check in for swimmers will begin at 5 pm (again, make sure to bring cash for your entry fee!)
- The meet will start promptly at 5:30 pm
