Zade was a charismatic three-year-old who was all boy, wanted to be outside with his brothers, was the family’s comedian, and loved his toys. His life was suddenly and tragically cut short when he drowned on a spring day in 2024 at a friend’s house. His parents, Michelle and Tyler Rachels, felt they needed to do something to help prevent such a tragedy from happening to someone else. They wanted to spread awareness about teaching children to swim and water safety.

They planned and had their first event not long after his death, “A Day for Zade,” to raise awareness at the same pool where the tragedy occurred. They offered CPR lessons and had a swim instructor, Jamie Childers, sign kids up for swim lessons. They then decided to start scholarships for swim lessons given by Jamie, water safety and CPR education, and gift pool alarms to families. This has helped focus their grief on something good coming from such a tragedy.

The name “Zade Our Hero” came to them from Zade’s love of the show Paw Patrol, where the characters in the show are all community heroes, like Zade is for this cause.

While Michelle and Tyler are busy planning the two upcoming fundraising events, the second annual golf tournament at Georgia National and the third annual “Day for Zade,” they always have their sweet boy on their minds and are honoring his short but impactful life. Last summer, their efforts enabled them to give swim lessons to 41 children. All money raised at events goes toward this wonderful mission.

Zade has an older brother, Brighton, and a twin brother, Zeke, and they were his best friends too. Although Michelle and Tyler will always grieve the loss of Zade, “Sometimes we feel like we got the coolest blessing because we have his identical twin, and obviously sometimes it hurts, but how cool that we got Zeke, that is almost the spitting image of Zade, his other half.”

Michelle and Tyler’s faith, family, and friends have helped carry them through this unimaginable tragedy. They hope Zade’s brothers will “carry this legacy of continuing to share the importance of water safety in honor of their brother, and to know that we are trying to honor him and that we didn’t give up in trying to make a difference and that we love Zade and them so very much!”

If you would like to donate to this wonderful and needed nonprofit to honor Zade, or know a child in need of financial assistance for swim lessons, visit https://www.zadeourhero.com or their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/p/Zade-Our-Hero-61558386339929/

By Delaney Kirby