fenella bishop
In memory of Adam Braverman
Fundraising for Shallow Water Blackout Prevention Inc
Story
Family and friends of Adam supported Phil Giannecchini, Julian Trumper, Angus Brown, Viktorija Kneizyte, Clara Rincon, Duncan Robertson and Ravi Nathan who all ran in the Lucerne Marathon in memory of Adam and to raise funds for Wooden Spoon and Shallow Water Blackout Prevention on 28th October, 2018.
The whole weekend was amazing; Phil flew in from Hong Kong, Charlotte from California, Simone and Concetta from Rome and the rest of us from London.
Phil won his bet with Adam and completed the full marathon in 2 hours and 58 minutes; only his second marathon and truly an incredible time. He came an awe inspiring 37th from the thousands who ran the marathon. This is one bet that Adam would not mind losing! He didn't believe that Phil could go sub three hours - well you proved him wrong Phil!
Julian and Viktorija ran the half marathon in awesome times and all four other runners completed the 10kms spectacularly.
Hats off to all of you and massive thanks. We are still collecting funds and will be updating shortly when we know the final amount raised.
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On 15th October, 2017,to commemorate the six month anniversary of Adam's passing, his close friend, Phil, ran the Amsterdam marathon, again raising funds for Wooden Spoon. Phil achieved an awesome time of 3 hours 1minute and 22 seconds! You are amazing Phil! Of course having announced his intention to run the marathon sub 3 hours to Adam prior his passing, Adam bet he wouldn't achieve that goal. So close!!! but as Phil says, there was no time limit so he will be running again and winning the bet! This conversation is not closed and we all believe Phil will make it (trust me Adam does too!)
History:
Our beloved son, brother and friend, Adam Braverman, passed away suddenly on 15th April, 2017,not long before his 30th birthday.
As Adam touched the lives of so many we would like his legacy to continue through helping children from all walks of life but particularly those disadvantaged or disabled to obtain the same joy of life, sport and friendship that so embodied Adam's life. And to spreading awareness of Shallow Water Blackout.
We lost Adam to Shallow Water Blackout. He was a strong and amazing swimmer who loved to swim underwater. From the age of 3 years old. Having swum competitively and strenuously for a period of time he then continued to swim underwater alone and succumbed to Shallow Water Blackout.
Shallow Water Blackout Prevention was founded by Dr Rhonda Milner and her husband Gene "Dusty" Milner after their son, Gene Whitner Milner, III drowned in their backyard pool on April 17, 2011. At the time of his death Whitner was practicing prolonged breath-holding to prepare himself to go spearfishing in the Bahamas the following week. Dr Milner ran our organization along with Britt Jackson, the Executive Director, until they hired Dean E. Haller as the Executive Director on June 1, 2016. Dean and his wife Sandy lost their son "Benjo" on August 1, 2014 while he was practicing prolonged breath-holding spearfishing in the Bahamas. He was in 7 feet of water.Both Whitner and Benjo drowned after succumbing to a shallow water blackout (SWB) (also known as a hypoxic blackout or underwater blackout/faint), which is triggered by prolonged breath-holding. Our 2 families along with volunteer "Ambassadors" from the US, Australia, the Netherlands and the UK work together to end SWB.
Shallow Water Blackout affects often physically fit and high level swimmers but is a danger to anyone who practises breath holding by swimming under water. Exacerbated by strenuous exercise or prolonged under water breath holding oxygen levels fall and produce an euphoric state where artificially low carbon dioxide levels lead the swimmer to believe that they can continue without breathing and the desire to breathe is diminished. There is no warning and blackout occurs leading to death within 1 - 2 minutes as opposed to regular drowning where brain damage and drowning takes 6 - 8 minutes. Resuscitation is virtually impossible.
The money being raised is to message the following:
- Never hyperventilate when swimming
- Never ignore the urge to breathe
- Never swim alone
- Never play breath holding games
- Never swim repetitive underwater laps especially at speed or competitively as this creates hyperventilation.
Thank you for spreading the word and helping raise money to stop senseless deaths like Adam's.
