The day is approaching for the coastal neighborhoods of Sunset Beach and Seal Beach to come together to try and make something positive come out of the most horrific, sad and senseless tragedy to ever afflict this community.
On Sunday, July 13, the Third Annual Michele Memorial Swim & Paddle will be held. Those who are willing to brave the ocean that day will swim in the chilly morning water from Sunset to Seal Beach – just past the pier and make landfall at the city’s main beach.
They will do it not to remember a tragedy but to honor a life well-lived.
In making the effort they will raise funds for Smile Train, a charity that raises money for corrective surgery for children born with a cleft lip and palate. It is also to honor the life of the 46-year-old mother of three, Michele Daschbach Fast, who died along with seven others in the shootings in Salon Meritage in Seal Beach in 2011. At the time, the tragedy was called the worst in Orange County History.
Swimming was Michele’s passion. She was well-known at the pool at McGaugh Elementary School for her dedication to her morning swimming workouts and the many friendships she made there.
She was also an accomplished open water swimmer who swam the 20-plus mile channel to Catalina.
The swim last year raised $3,240 for Smile Train.
Michele’s brother, Rooney Daschbach of Sunset Beach, has organized the fundraiser/tribute from the start along with his siblings and Michele’s children (son Patrick, 22, and daughters Lisa, 17 and Laura, 18) and husband Patrick Fast, who paddled in last year’s event.
The family participates in the event from its start at 7:30 a.m. when they assemble behind Rooney Daschbach’s home near 10th Street in Sunset, to when they enter the water at 8:30 a.m. to begin the swim to the finish line at the ocean’s edge in Seal Beach.
The swim includes a cadre of volunteer paddlers and boat escorts to give assistance to any swimmer who needs it and to ward off any interfering vessels.
Those who participate are asked to park along the greenbelt in Sunset Beach. One of the Big Red Busses out of nearby Long Beach will pick up the participants after the swim in Seal Beach. From there the group will adjourn to Rooney and Claire Daschbach’s home at 16901 South Pacific Ave., Sunset Beach for food, drink and a celebration.
“We will also have a truck to transport paddleboards back to Sunset Beach,” Rooney Daschbach said.
Meanwhile, paddlers will receive a commemorative towel at finish to stay warm on the bus ride.
Michele’s youngest daughter, Lisa, was born with a cleft lip and palate. With the support of her family and access to a “great doctor,” Lisa was fortunate enough to successfully repair the condition. She dedicated herself to raising money on behalf of those who are unable to afford the treatment to repair their cleft palate, by collecting and recycling plastic bottles after her soccer games and from friends’ homes.
According to the Smile Train website, the 16-year-old has raised more than $10,000 for the charity to date.
It has said that “every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes.”
Smile Train is dedicated to provide free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries and free cleft-related training for doctors and medical professionals until there are no more children who need help and we have completely eradicated the problem of clefts.
Participants and the public are asked to make a donation to the Michele Fast Memorial Charity Fund either at the event or online at http://support.smiletrain.org/goto/micheledaschbachfast.
