A 12 Year Old Boy’s Legacy…

Let’s make beaches safe, together! That is the slogan of the Arunay Foundation.

If that name is not familiar to you, you are not alone, it was not familiar to me either. I was invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Pillar Point Harbor. It was hosted by The San Mateo County Harbor Commission, Coastside Fire District, the Coastguard, the Sheriff’s office and the Sea Valor organizations, just to name a few. These are many of the same organizations that were on location the day that Arunay, a 12 year old boy, was swept out to see in front of his friends and family. Here is a quote about that day from his parents:

“Arunay was our 12 year old son, who was playing by the beach with family and friends on the fateful warm day of January 18th, 2021, when a sneaker wave carried him out to sea. Despite extensive search and recovery efforts, he was never found and we made the heartbreaking decision to call off all search efforts March 1, 2021.”​​​​​​​

I can’t even imagine what that poor family has had to endure. They have however decided to turn their unthinkable sorrow into something positive, a legacy of the young man’s life. On Oct 15, 2021, the San Mateo County Harbor Commission voted unanimously to cover the construction and permitting costs for four life-saving stations and ring buoys : two in Pillar Point Harbor, one near Surfer’s Beach and one at the breakwater near Mavericks! And so, Arunay’s legacy has begun to take shape.

Today, my company, Ocean Blue Real Estate dedicated the sponsorship dollars associated with the cost of one of these lifesaving stations. We love our community and the sea and feel it’s the least we can do to keep another family from experiencing this same tragedy. Nearly 4000 individuals drown each year in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for children between the age of 1 to 14 years. About 50-75 percent of these deaths take place in open waters. 

I am humbled by this family’s bravery and commitment to lessen the chances of this happening to another family. This past year 19 people have died on the beaches of San Mateo county alone. Life rings are effective and are easy for almost anyone to use and have been proven to be lifesavers over decades. 

To donate or read more about the Arunay Foundation or Sea Valor, click on the links below. I hope you will join the entire Ocean Blue Real Estate team in protecting the coasts visitors and residents alike, one life ring at a time.

www.arunayfoundation.org

www.seavalor.org