Mujeres De Rio: Building on Miles Turner’s Legacy

Please donate to Mujeres De Rio, a foundation based in Futaleufu, Chile, for the empowerment of Chilean women in whitewater sports and river conservation, in honor of Miles Turner, who recently passed in Futaleufu, his favorite place on the planet. Miles loved kayaking in Patagonia and empowering young women through outdoor education. Let's build on his legacy together!

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A moving message from his brother George:

My brother, Miles Turner, was a man of loves. He loved his family, he loved his friends, he loved his job, he loved his partner Kate, he loved kayaking, he loved the Futaleufu River, and he loved a special place called Cara Del Indio. My brother traveled all over the world, and we spoke regularly everywhere he went. I often listened to Miles sharing about his life, where he was going, what he was doing next, and he was always excited. He was a man living his passion. But there was another level of joy when he spoke about the Futaleufu River, and it was clear to me that he had found his favorite place on earth. How fitting that he would find his final resting place in that river, where he drowned in early January due to an non-boating accident.

Cara Del Indio is an idyllic stretch of land of the Futaleufu River, bordered by picturesque hills and cliffs and a world-class whitewater river. It’s a traditional homestead with a campsite and cabins for kayakers, rafters and fishermen on the river, hosted by a kind and gracious family who also run a rafting company. My brother would carve out time in his busy schedule as an outdoor educator for NOLS, HMI and Outward Bound, to spend time at Cara Del Indio and simply enjoy the breathtaking surroundings, his friends amongst the guests and staff, and long days of kayaking on this amazing river.

One of the people he befriended was a young woman named Camila Olea, originally from Santiago, who now considers Futaleufu her hometown. She is one of the few Chilean women who have found their passion in whitewater kayaking.

The circumstances of my brother’s drowning made it so that it wasn’t certain what had happened; he was simply missing. When I heard he had disappeared, I traveled as swiftly as I could down to Chile, and I was met by his friends, including Camila, who immediately took me under her wing. She ushered me around everywhere I needed to go: to the police station, to meetings of the search and rescue team, to Cara Del Indio and back into town, translating, driving, and assisting in any way she could. As the days passed, I became so impressed by her capability, her power, and the kindness and generosity of her heart. She was indefatigable. She advocated for my brother and pushed the authorities to take more action. Her help was invaluable during a very challenging week when I was navigating a crisis in a new country and unfamiliar language. She had no reason to treat me and my brother so kindly other than the fact that it comes naturally to her to care and to help.

When I learned that she had founded Mujeres de Rio, an organization for the empowerment of Chilean women in whitewater sports as well as river conservation advocacy, it made perfect sense. Of course, this young woman, who is a force of nature, would find the perfect expression of her talents and qualities in nonprofit leadership.

My brother loved teaching young people in the outdoors, and he took a special interest in empowering young women on his courses, and in making sure they felt included, safe, and honored. He was a fierce protector.

So when his body was recovered, it became crystal clear to me that the best way for me to honor my brother’s legacy on the river would be to ask the many people around the world who knew and loved my brother or who take inspiration in his life to donate to Camila’s foundation in his honor. Let’s turn a difficult circumstance into a positive one, and allow young Chilean and Latin American women to find their passion and empowerment in the whitewater! Please share what you can if you are moved to do so, and let’s make a difference! Do it for Miles!