Help me honor my mom and finish Joyce's Journey!
Donation protected
My mom was a teacher and never had much, but some of her last years were devoted to saving up miles for her dream trip to Australia.
Shortly before taking the trip, she was diagnosed with an advanced case of cancer. If she didn't make it, she asked me to go in her honor and to also promise to see her favorite place in the world - Cape Town.
Unfortunately, she didn't get to fulfill her dream before the cancer spread. A few months after she passed, I decided to take a chance and booked a last-minute trip to see Sydney then fly to South Australia to swim with great white sharks. It was the best decision I ever made. Her dream trip and my worst nightmare all in one! I knew my mom was probably somewhere proud and smiling.
The trip was so life-changing, that I started a shark-diving charity for cancer survivors. We organized several trips for survivors to harness the therapeutic power of the ocean and magic of marine life. Here we are us with the largest fish in the sea - the whale shark! We also did aquarium visits, kayak trips, and film nights to learn more about sharks.
So here I am, on the last leg of Joyce's Journey. This is to fulfill a promise and set a date with destiny. I went to some of my mom's favorite places along the way, like Jekyll Island and Aruba, but South Africa will be special. Due to some recent developments, this may be my only chance to do it.
Funds will used to cover travel costs, equipment rentals, shark encounters/education programs, any applicable fees for a shark volunteer/research program, and wildlife safari (budget permitting). I hope to save money by booking budget accommodations or by volunteering for a reputable, eco-friendly boat operator. I am even considering a shark naming or adoption opportunity to name a great white shark after my mom. Here's a photo I took of "Tinkerbell" from my one and only great white shark expedition!
I hope to continue paying it forward and genuinely appreciate any financial or emotional support. Let's do it for Joyce and the sharks!
Shortly before taking the trip, she was diagnosed with an advanced case of cancer. If she didn't make it, she asked me to go in her honor and to also promise to see her favorite place in the world - Cape Town.
Unfortunately, she didn't get to fulfill her dream before the cancer spread. A few months after she passed, I decided to take a chance and booked a last-minute trip to see Sydney then fly to South Australia to swim with great white sharks. It was the best decision I ever made. Her dream trip and my worst nightmare all in one! I knew my mom was probably somewhere proud and smiling.
The trip was so life-changing, that I started a shark-diving charity for cancer survivors. We organized several trips for survivors to harness the therapeutic power of the ocean and magic of marine life. Here we are us with the largest fish in the sea - the whale shark! We also did aquarium visits, kayak trips, and film nights to learn more about sharks.
So here I am, on the last leg of Joyce's Journey. This is to fulfill a promise and set a date with destiny. I went to some of my mom's favorite places along the way, like Jekyll Island and Aruba, but South Africa will be special. Due to some recent developments, this may be my only chance to do it.
Funds will used to cover travel costs, equipment rentals, shark encounters/education programs, any applicable fees for a shark volunteer/research program, and wildlife safari (budget permitting). I hope to save money by booking budget accommodations or by volunteering for a reputable, eco-friendly boat operator. I am even considering a shark naming or adoption opportunity to name a great white shark after my mom. Here's a photo I took of "Tinkerbell" from my one and only great white shark expedition!
I hope to continue paying it forward and genuinely appreciate any financial or emotional support. Let's do it for Joyce and the sharks!
Organizer
Brandon Bethea
Organizer
Clearwater, FL
