MERCURY DOWN, VIBES UP!
KOADY CHAISSON’S 2024 STAY COOL SWIM COLD CHALLENGE BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE TIBETAN CHILDREN’S VILLAGE (DHARAMSALA, INDIA) + WATER FIRST (CANADA).
JOIN US IN THE COLD WATER NOVEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 4!
In 2021, our beautiful Koady started the Stay Cool Swim Cold challenge. He swam in the chilly waters of Prince Edward Island every day in December, raising money for the Unison Benevolent Fund, which supports musicians in Canada through hard times. He loved getting into that cold water - it's no overstatement to say that it was life changing for his mental health. During that month, many of us (his friends and family) swam with him - though at that time few of us could stay in as long as he could! Along with raising money for a cause he cared about, he found that the ritual and discipline of the cold water helped to stabilise his mental health. It became part of his winter lifestyle.
After Koady's passing, cold swims have become something that we do, both alone and together, to remember and honour Koady, to connect with each other, and to try to help stabilise ourselves in the storms of grief and love we have weathered since he left us. In late 2022, in Koad's honour we did another Stay Cool, Swim Cold, again swimming every day in December. The money was split between the Tibetan Children's Village in Dharamshala, and the Mi'kmaq Family Resource Centre here in PEI.
This year - the year Koad would have turned 40 - we wanted to do something special. From November 4 until Koady's birthday on December 4, we will be cold swimming and hoping to raise $4,000 to be split between Water First, a charity that works in partnership with Indigenous communities to address local water challenges (how do some communities still not have access to clean water in Canada!?) and the Tibetan Childrens Village.
On top of that, we have partnered with one of The East Pointers' favourite designers, Aidan Searle, and one of our favourite Island retailers, Swenn, to do a special edition Canadian designed and made sweater. All profits from the sale of the sweaters will go toward our fundraising goal of $4000. If you buy a sweater, you're contributing to the fundraiser, and Staying Cool in a way that doesn't require you to get in the water!
The sweaters will be available after their release at Goolaholla! festival on the 27th September, and then in store at Swenn (Queen Street, Charlottetown) until sold out. For an extra $20 we can post them to you if you don’t live on the Island.
You can also join us in the fundraiser by donating directly to this campaign, or add a special challenge by taking the swims, yourself, and asking people to sponsor you by donating to the campaign as you meet your own swimming goal. We'll post some photos and updates via The East Pointers' socials throughout November, and here on this campaign page.
Any contribution you can make is so appreciated and honoured. We are so grateful to people who continue to tell us stories about the way that Koady impacted their lives.
Stay Cool! Swim Cold!
Lots of love from Koady's family and The East Pointers
