Fundraiser Planned To Honor Danville Cyclist Killed In Accident

DANVILLE, CA — The Cal women’s rowing team continues to raise money to buy a boat in honor of their teammate Shawn O’Donnell, a Danville native who was killed in July while cycling in Washington, D.C. after a truck attempting to make a right turn did not see her. Shawn’s team is aiming to raise $50,000 to purchase an eight-person racing shell in her memory. In the world of rowing, naming a boat after someone is considered a tremendous honor.

As of Dec. 5, the group has raised $31,984. To cross the finish line, the team is holding a fundraiser at Gianni’s Italian Bistro in San Ramon on Monday, Dec. 19. Ten percent of sales and all tips will be donated to the boat. The community is asked to reserve a table for that night in order to honor Shawn.

O’Donnell, 40, was a foreign service officer working for the State Department, and had previously worked for the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. She had recently celebrated her 40th birthday by hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa.

She was described as an active and energetic linguist and world traveler who spoke multiple languages and had visited over 50 countries. During her time with the State Department, she received a Group Meritorious Honor award and two Group Franklin Awards.

“There is nothing that can fill the void that Shawn’s family and friends feel in the wake of her passing,” former teammate Andrea Sanders said in a statement. “However, there is a way that Shawn’s love of adventure and desire for a challenge can live on. That is through the dedication of a boat in her name.”

Visit shawnsboat.com for more information and to donate.