Swim for Africa
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 9:19PM Tiffany Carter is the granddaughter of one of my most beloved friends.
In 2009, Sophia Carter spent Christmas with her family, like so many people do all over the world. It is a most sacred holiday and a time of giving. She had recently returned from Athi River Village in Kenya, Africa, and there were many tales to tell. She spoke of starvation, poverty and the horrors of malnutrition in the children of the close-knit community. There was sickness in the air, she said - AIDS and lots of other maladies. Life saving medicines are sometimes worlds away, yet the villagers do the best they can with what they have. Their faith sustains them. Faith in themselves and humankind and a spirited drive to live and one day prosper.
Her family listened intently. There were many fascinating stories. After all, this is a culture so different from ours. To be among the people from half-way around the world was most fascinating and something not soon forgotten. When she left, she promised herself that she would do whatever she could to help. Suddenly, something sparked in the mind of her younger sister, Tiffany.
In the Kenyan village is a pre-school for young children. Built by a Christian organization called YWAM – Youth With A Mission – many children in the community come from abusive families or from parents that lose the struggle to clothe and feed them. They are the ones who come without the basic necessities of life. The school provides them with the basic essentials, including an education at a nominal fee, and children with HIV are given valuable prescription medications. Though many in the village work, most parents cannot afford to pay tuition for the school.
For the price of a cup of coffee in America, help for a child can go a long way. One or two dollars a week will provide schooling and at least one nutritious meal a day for seven full days. Without it, those children could go up to three days without a meal.
Tiffany Carter has always been an athletic and driven person. The idea that lit up inside her head was something she knew she could bring to fruition. Boldly, she stated, “I will swim across Lake Tahoe to raise funds for the village!”
This Friday, August 20, her dream from Christmas past will become a reality as she swims 22 miles across Lake Tahoe in order to help raise funds for the impoverished community. Of course, her grandmother would appreciate any and all prayers for her safety and success.
SWIM FOR AFRICA
Tiffany’s goal, and the goal of Swim for Africa is to raise enough money for every child to be fed, sheltered, clothed, and given medications as needed, for a full year. Swim for Africa hopes to raise $2,000 to send to the village to ensure that every child is nourished and cared for.
Won’t you please help?
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Reader Comments (27)
Dave, thanks for writing this article. What a great idea that Tiffany came up with. It is nice to see young people willing to do something like this for the less fortunate. My donation has been sent. Thanks for letting us know about this.
[Anything for a very good cause, Mary Jo. I needed to write this because, well, it needed to be done. Thank you for giving.]
Dave, you are welcome. Do you think you could give us an update once she is done with the swim and she knows how much she was able to collect. I am hoping that she is able to make her goal, if not more.
[I think I could find something out, Mary Jo. I don't know if she will collect it all by Friday or not. My guess is that she will continue trying to raise money. Times are tough. She is scheduled to be on KTHO at 8 AM California time tomorrow.]
Is Tiffany's middle name Joy?
She is ...like the 3rd person to swim for Africa?
I am happy she is helping her family make this promise possible.
I would like to give something to help make their lives a little better.
Dave, a follow up would be nice too. Thank you.
Yes, stpetesmj, Joy is her middle name. Near the bottom of the article, the word "help" links to Tiffany's donation page. Thank you for wanting to help out. I will try to get a follow-up to her swim. She said KTHO will be covering the event periodically. Here is a link to listen to the station, which plays Classic Rock.
http://www.kthoradio.com/radio.html
Oops! I keep on forgetting to log in and then wonder why my comment won't post. Dave this is very admirable for a young girl. Please tell Tiffany my thoughts and prayers will be with her. I have never travelled to Kenya as it is quite far away but even SA is riddled with HIV/AIDS. I work for a charitable organisation here that does primary health care training and also teachers people within the villages how to care for those who have HIV/AIDS and are sick and dying. Not all these people are cared for in hospitals and most suffer and die in squalid conditions at home. There are also many AIDS orphans and child headed households here where kids as young as 10 are solely responsible for looking after and feeding their younger brothers and sisters. The news is now that there is a new mutation of HIV/AIDS which does not respond to ARVs. Anyhow my best wishes for Tiffany and thank you for posting such an important story on your blog.
Thank you Dave for putting this up. Tiffany is a very special young lady to give of herself this way. I hope she can reach her goal. It is a very sad situation in Africa and this is such a simple way that we can help. I sent you something.
That is such a beautiful picture of Lake Tahoe. Thanks again for letting us know. Your friends must be so proud of their granddaughter.
Dave~~thank you for putting up this post.
To Tiffany, you are an amazing young woman with a big heart. We need more people like yourself in this world. God speed in your challenge to swim the 22 miles across Lake Tahoe. I know in my heart you will succeed and your effort will pay off for those less fortunate. Thank you.
Dave - Thanks for sharing this story and giving your readers a chance to support such a worthwhile cause. Your friends have two very remarkable grandchildren. They must be very proud. They must also be proud of the parents for having raised two very caring and giving young women. Tiffany has my best wishes and support.
Wonderful article as always!
Hey Charlie, I see you found your way here. Did you see the bread crumbs I left for you :D
I did!!!! Thank you for the lead................. :)
Anytime you need a lead, I am here :D
Dave, Thank you, does not seem enough. For you to have given your time and space for Swim For Africa is very very much appreciated. They say we should be very careful when we become involved with anyone on the internet but you are one of the nicest, kind, and caring people to have ever touched my life, as you also have many others. So many children, lost, starving, hurting, abused and murdered within their own families and right next door to all of us. So many have become victim of those who are supposed to love and care about them. So many brought into this world where governments place no value on them , families left to wander in waste and disease, possibly finding the only love they know from holding a child in their arms for just a little while, for which they can not provide. It is truly heartwarming to read the generous supportive and encouraging words for the children and for Tiffany. May you all receive God's Blessings in His Love.
(I think I lost my first comment)
Thank you so much for your kind words, New Puppy. It was the least I could do to assist those poor children. What Tiffany is doing goes far beyond what I have done here. She is the one who deserves the biggest thank you. I wish her Godspeed tomorrow.
Dave - Please make sure you keep us updated with Tiffany's progress tomorrow. I hope she reaches both of her goals.
This is great article Dave. In my heart I know she will make it. She will have all of us praying for her. I really admire the youth that take on such great work.
This is GREAT. What a precious little girl.
I hope that I will not need a new password everyday. I'm still adjusting to this. lol
New Puppy, I agree, may Dave AND Tiffiney receive God's Blessings! (And the children from Africa, of course. My prayers are with them.)
Hi Dave - Have you heard any news about Tiffany?
It is 10:15 my time and Tiffany is safe and sound on dry land. The water got rough or something, so her swim was adjusted to 20.5 miles.
Last I heard, she had passed 15 miles. There is a boat very near and she stops for food and drinks. She's a real trooper. When I hear something new, I'll post it.
It is 8:30 here, and she is 3 miles out. That's 19 miles so far. She's burning 9 calories per minute.
Thanks for the updates on Tiffany, Dave. Her family must be so proud of her.
It is 10:15 my time and Tiffany is safe and sound on dry land. The water got rough or something, so her swim was adjusted to 20.5 miles.
Way to go Tiffany! I hope she made her fundraising goal.
Dave, have you heard if she was able to complete all her miles and if she reached her goal money wise?
Mary Jo - I guess the water got too rough or something. She swam 20.5 miles and finished in the boat. Her route was from Kiva Beach to Incline Village. Before attempting her swim, she raised $957 of her $2,000 goal. Donations can still be made by going to http://swimforafrica.com/donate/
She's got to be one very sore and tired girl.
20.5 miles is great! I hope that she continues to get more donations. I bet she will be sore and tired. She has a lot to be proud of. So do her parents and grandparents. Tiffany, great job!
Thanks for the update Dave. She should be very proud of herself for accomplishing what she did. I hope she can get more money for this worthy cause.
Swim for Africa
Tiffany, "My Heart Runneth Over" ! God Bless the children who gave you reason to do the swim. Do not feel defeated over a mile, God doesn't allow us to fully take over because the VICTORY belongs to Him. He took you as far as He wanted you to go yesterday. God Bless you for hearing the children's cry when Sophia told her stories. God Bless Michelle too for being beside you. Aren't sisters great? :-) God Bless the beautiful hearts that have been supportive, encouraging and giving to benefit the children. Liked your write up about your experience in the water on your blog.