Nine Bay Swim Success — Part 3

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Correction — Total swim time for all 9 bays was 5 hours and 24 minutes, not 10+ hrs. previously reported.  I can hardly believe it!  but it was reported to me by Wayne Overby who was in a kayak next to Luis the entire time.

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We “summarized” in part 2 by reminding people that Luis was a “man with 2 missions,” one to establish an “open water swim” record for the Bays of Huatulco, and the other to be of assistance to the “children of San Felipe.”

He said that he used as his “mantra” the expression, “Cada Brazada, Un Aliento Para La Niñez,” which loosely translated means with, “Each Movement of the Arms, A Breathe For Childhood,” so that he had the energy to make the necessary strokes to complete the course.

One can only wonder how many strokes or “breathes for children” had to take to swim approximately 14 miles in UNDER 6 hours.  No matter, however, for he was doing it for the children of San Felipe. 

More photos and videos just a click away –

Nine Bay Swim–Part 2 of 3

During the swim, Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez was “monitored” by his swimming coach and “shadow” by a security force to protect his safety natural “predators.” However, Luis also had other creatures “shadowing” him, the Dolphins, which Luis has always viewed as a good sign.

 

The swim lasted many hours (about 10 and 1/2 hrs.) but ended on San Agustin Beach.  Here is a photo of Luis at the beach of San Agustin.

More photos are just a click away –

The “Rest of the Story” — “Each Arm Stroke . . . . “

“Each arm stroke, a breath for children” – says Luis

There are children in the state of Oaxaca who live in a remote village over a mile high in the mountains not far from the head waters of the Rio Copalita . Their community, San Felipe Lachillo, is part of the Santiago Xanica Municipality. Within the community are over 200 school children who live in “extreme poverty” with little food or other needed supplies.

Now, how Luis Alfredo Estavillo Chavez, owner of Onix Restaurant in LaCrucecita, ever learned about their struggles and found them is beyond me because the village is miles inland, slightly northwest of Huatulco, and without roads or rivers to or from its location. Like too many children, in too many countries, the children of San Felipe Lachillio have little food and little energy to attend and concentrate on learning while in school.  

Luis Estavillo, has decided to do something to help the children. He believes his own life and that of his spouse, Elva, has been very blessed, and it is time to demonstrate his gratitude using some of his own funds to help children who are in much distress. Luis would like to see some kind of an industry started in the community of San Felipe that would make enough profit to pay for the food for breakfasts of the school. Perhaps a small scale “fish farming” industry could be started or maybe something could be manufactured from bamboo that could be sold in the markets of Huatulco, Pochutla, or even Oaxaca City.

He has the support of the community already. The following is a photo of families of the community gathered at the “city hall” where they learned about the plan for the children of their community–

With the support of the community, a new shelter was constructed as a kitchen and breakfast area for the children in order to protect from the sun and rain. It is under construction in the next photo-

More photos are just a click away —

The Rest of the Story–”Each Stroke Of His Arms . . “

In order to raise funds to start industries in a community to buy food for a school breakfast program, the Huatulco Tri Sports Club Civil Association and Luis Estavillo are  sponsoring a swimming event on the 18^th or 19th of August, depending on weather conditions.

Luis will start swimming at 7:00 am from San Augustin bay and end at Conejos bay around 15:00 pm. His arrival will be celebrated at Conejos beach with food and drinks for everyone.  It is a SOLO, NINE BAY SWIM, a total of 23.5 KM or 14.6 miles. 

With “each stroke of his arms, he will take a breath and give breath to children.”

We saw Luis practicing for the NINE BAY SWIM in a previous post accompanied by dolphins, a great sign  –

Luis is now ready to do ALL NINE BAYS in order to raise money to buy food for this school kitchen and breakfast shelter –

 

To learn more about Luis and his mission, go to the Page on the right entitled, The “Rest of the Story . . . “ 

OR click on this link –

http://huatulcoparadise.wordpress.com/the-rest-of-the-story-each-arm-stroke/