PORT TOWNSEND — A fund to help improve lifeguard and emergency services in the Sayulita area of Mexico has been established by the widow of local man who drowned in that area May 18.
Chambers, 40, was on vacation with his wife and two young sons when the accident occurred.
According to Jordan Pollack, who was a close friend of Chambers, Sayulita — about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta in the Mexican state of Nayarit — is a popular vacation spot for Port Townsend residents.
“It’s not built up and is very small and friendly,” Pollack said.
“I’ve been down there three times and I’ve met people from Port Townsend.”
As a small town it is lacking in emergency services, so this fund drive has been established to fill that gap.
To that end, the Zack Chambers Lifeguard Fund has been established at Quimper Community Federal Credit Union, with about 20 fund containers installed at various locations in the region.
Lifeguard equipment
The funds collected will be used to purchase needed medical and rescue equipment for lifeguards on the beaches where Chambers drowned,
Pollack does not have a projected fundraising goal, but hopes to establish a well trained lifeguard corps, bring community-based CPR and first aid training, install two staffed ambulances and eventually develop a small corps of trained firefighters for the occasional wildland or structure fire.
He has been involved in similar efforts and helped to secure money for an ambulance, but the local government was not able to accept it due to its lacking support services.
Chambers was a graphic designer, so as a tribute much of the efforts will go toward printing emergency phone number stickers and beack warning signs.
For more information call 360-385-2308.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.