Bart Welch is raising money for the BCF!

Please consider a donation to the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation. I will be paddling 30 miles from Catalina Island to The Newport Pier with the hopes of raising money for the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation. While I did not know Ben personally, a friend of mine Spencer Pirdy was very close to Ben and started this event to raise money for the foundation and to honor Ben's legacy. Ben did, and Spencer does, have a love for all things related to the ocean - a love and passion that I share as well. 

As I vividly remember the evening of Ben's passing and was bodysurfing with a good friend of mine Kris Cooper that evening at El Morro on July 6, 2014, I wanted to embark on this 30 mile paddle to pay tribute to Ben and try to raise money for the Foundation. Each and every time I take my kids on a bike ride down to the Newport Pier we always say "Hi to Ben" as that is where there is a statue of Lifeguard Ben Carlson holding a swim buoy and fins. Alternatively, having lived in Newport Beach/Costa Mesa for my entire life and looking at the channel every time I go to the beach, I figured a good challenge was in order.

The Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation was formed to leverage Ben Carlson's legacy through doing positive work in his memory. Taking into consideration the things that truly mattered to Ben, your donations will proudly support the following causes as the BCMSF Board of Advisors decides.

To read more on Ben's Story, please follow the link: Ben's Story — Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation - Raise Up For Ben (bencarlsonfoundation.org)

Thank you in advance. 

Bart Welch