CNN Hero comes to TCI

Sandra Shaw

#TurksandCaicos, April 23, 2018 – Providenciales – Trying to erase the stigma attached to swimming for the black population of the turks and caicos is a goal of several swim organisations in the country which have noticed the trend for the native people to avoid the sport on both the recreational and competitive levels.. Its why Australian born, TCI swim instructor Sandra Shaw brought in a very special lady….

“I met Wanda at the US swim schools conference in Orlando and we were very moved and touched by what she does, and that’s something that we are very passionate about here because we do know, that there are a lot of children here that can’t swim.  We teach swimming to survive, that’s what we’re basically about, our program is swim and survive”  she said.

Wanda Butts in the 2012 CNN Hero and founder of the Josh Project, non-profit organization aimed at helping minority children learn how to swim.  The mother who lost her son to a horrible swimming accident admitted she never thought the indescribable grief of losing her precious Josh

Wanda Butts

could also bring her such immense joy.

“I never thought that I would feel normal or be normal from the loss of my son, but from me trying to help others not be in my position, not have the same thing happen to them, a lot of good things came to me from that.  It was the worst, the very worst day of my life, and from that, some of the best, I’m here in Turks and Caicos, and I had never heard of a place like this and this is one of the most beautiful places, and I was invited here because of Josh’s death.  And that is where the happiness comes from, from all the things that has come to me from his death.  I don’t get it either, believe me it was horrible, it was just horrible.” – Wanda Butts – 2012 CNN Hero, Josh Project Founder.

By: Deandrea Hamilton