Hi everyone. On Saturday, September 19th, I will be paddling 30 miles across the Catalina Channel, from Avalon to the Newport Pier, on a prone paddleboard, in support of the Ben Carlson foundation. This paddle honors Ben Carlson, a cherished member of the Newport Beach community and a former Newport Beach lifeguard. On July 6th, 2014, Ben swam out into heavy surf after a struggling swimmer. The swimmer lived. Ben didn't. He was 32, and the first Newport Beach lifeguard to die in the line of duty. The foundation his family built puts the money they raise to work through scholarships for student-athletes, ocean safety education in local schools, Junior Lifeguard scholarships for kids whose families couldn't otherwise swing it, and rescue gear for under-resourced lifeguard programs. In order to get on the starting line, each paddler has to raise $2,000. Every dollar goes to the foundation's scholarships, school swim programs, and lifeguard equipment to support education and water safety for the next generation. If that's work you'd like to support, my donation page is attached and I'd be so grateful for whatever you're able to give. Any amount goes a long way, but If now isn't the right time, I completely understand and I hope you'll follow along on the 19th anyway. I will be paddling for Ben in honor of his legacy, as well as in memory of my buddy Matthew Olson, whose special “MO23” emblem and can-do attitude I will carry with me the whole way across the channel. Please feel free to come out and support on the beach as well! Thank you so much! Let's do this thing, Shane