On June 29, 2019, the Hardwood resident lost her 28-year-old son, Alex McDermott, to a swimming accident while boating on Stromberg Lake in Breen Township.

On the first anniversary of his passing, Mattson turned her family’s grief and pain into purpose and organized an ATV event called the ATM Run, in memory of Alex Troy McDermott — initials ATM.

“This was not only to honor Alex, but I wanted to do anything I could to help raise the funds needed to re-establish a local dive team that could help prevent future tragedies,” Mattson said.

The fifth-annual ATM Run will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday. Participants are asked to meet at the Hardwood Hall on M-69. There’s no entry fee or pre-registration required.

ALEX McDERMOTT AND TAMMY MATTSON (Contributed photo)

All funds raised each year are through individual donations and sales of ATM Run shirts, hats and other merchandise.

Once again the ride will kick off with a check presentation to members of the Dickinson County Dive Team.

“Never in a million years did I think I would be pushing for a dive team,” Mattson said. “No one ever would have thought this, proving it could happen to anybody.”

That day in June 2019 was one of the hottest of summer, she recalled, noting family and friends had made plans to spend the day at the lake.

During the pontoon boat ride, they would make stops to cool off. Alex and her younger son, Tucker Mattson, jumped into the water and were swimming around the boat.

She said Alex was no stranger to the water and a strong swimmer.

“We were talking to both of them, then my youngest came up the ladder. I said, ‘Where’s Alex?'” Mattson remembers. “And his friends said, ‘he’s right ….’ and went to point, and he was gone.”

She explained that in addition to making the 911 call, the first thing she asked was for the exact time.

Mattson, along with Tucker and daughter Nikki Dennocenzo, jumped in the water searching while those on the boat began to yell for Alex.

“We were getting tired and 20 minutes had passed since he was down,” Mattson said. “I said to the other kids, ‘It’s time to get back on the boat, I can’t lose anyone else — he’s gone.'”

They continued to search the area of water as they waited for first responders to arrive. “That time period seemed like forever,” she said.

Dickinson County Sheriff Department deputies were the first to respond; however, the search was limited to boats until a dive unit could arrive.

“The local dive team disbanded in the early 2000s due to the rising costs and it used to be 100 percent deputies,” said dive team member Tony Guiliani of Loretto, adding he had first got involved in the EMT field after his wife Alicia’s best friend, Brandy VanPembrook, drowned in Hamilton Lakes about 15 years ago.

Local law enforcement made contact with dive units in Delta County, as well as the Michigan State Police team that is based downstate.

“At this point no one was in the water diving — we had no idea what to do,” Mattson said.

Being unable to continue due to darkness, Mattson made a plea on Facebook for anyone with a boat to come help. “I couldn’t sleep knowing he was still out there,” she said.

Community members responded to her call for help. At daylight, as she and her husband, Bobby Sandona arrived at the lake, people started coming with boats, kayaks, canoes, etc. They also came with coffee and food, or just to show support.

“I was totally amazed how many people showed up from my begging and desperation,” Mattson said.

On day two, MSP brought in a cadaver dog, but at that point it was too early. She noted that one area where the dog had been looking happened to be the location where he eventually surfaced.

Day three saw more volunteers get involved. Kubick Aviation came with small planes to circle the area and drones did flyovers.

“A good friend of my daughter’s even bought an underwater drone and had it overnighted,” Mattson added.

“A family member spent all day, every day, snorkeling,” she said.

The Michigan State Police dive team arrived July 3, which brought them a lot of hope, but they were pulled on the Fourth of July, Mattson said.

The Delta County Dive Team arrived the following day but got called away as well.

Days have now turned into a week.

Mattson recalls asking so many questions, such as how soon he might resurface on his own.

“They said there is no scientific way to know with the exception that my son was all muscle and had no fat on him, so that was against him,” she said. “Body fat will have you surface fast, as well as what you have in your stomach will make gas and to my knowledge he didn’t eat all day.”

She then was told if they couldn’t find him, it could take nine to 10 days.

On July 7, Mattson said she could see something from shore, so Missy Dierkens-Spade grabbed the binoculars and yelled to call 911. “She and Gregg Schultz jumped on jet skis immediately,” she added.

Alex’s best friend, Mark Wickman, who made the initial 911 call, was there to call again when he surfaced.

Mattson noted there were three drownings during a short period of time. “All I kept saying is we need a dive team here,” Mattson said.

The Guilianis, who assisted at the site daily, became Mattson’s voice when she didn’t have one.

“They continued to advocate and push the importance of having a local team,” she said.

“To have a local unit is critical because time is life for being under the water,” Guiliani said. “That makes a major difference between a save or going to do a recovery.”

After the accident, they started the process to re-establish the Dickinson County Dive Team.

As the local team builds itself, they have a mutual aid contract with Delta County. “We don’t have enough divers right now to truly say we are a stand-alone department,” Guiliani said.

Dickinson County, as well as Delta, are basically a volunteer team, Guiliani explained.

“Back when Alex passed away, Delta County had only one sheriff’s deputy on the dive team and that’s what Dickinson has as well,” he said, noting Lt. Jason Conery serves as team coordinator.

The team is on call 24/7 all year and work hand-in-hand on operations with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Marine Division.

“We have other resources available to us through the sheriff’s department, like getting the boat out and things we need to assure the fastest response time,” he said.

Currently the Dickinson County team has seven members with six certified divers, while Delta County has 17 certified divers.

The Dickinson County Dive Team is seeking more members. Anyone interested can contact Conery at the sheriff’s department.

“We are always looking to grow — it takes five dive members to put one diver in the water,” said Guiliani, adding a public safety diver must be certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and attend a Dive Rescue International course.

He also noted the costs involved with the dive team. “We are grateful for the ATM and Borderhounds for their annual fundraisers and the 100-Plus Women of Dickinson County,” Guiliani said. “Without their donations we wouldn’t be able to purchase the necessary equipment.”

Last year’s ATM Run drew more than 30-plus ATVs, bringing in more than a hundred participants. Everyone is welcome.

“I never thought about it until it happened to my son,” Mattson said. “I don’t want another family to have to experience what we did for nine days.”

Each year, an ATM Scholarship Kindness Award is presented to a North Dickinson County High School graduate who demonstrates Alex’s characteristics — intelligent, kind and fun.

Those unable to make the ride can make donations “In Memory of Alex”at First Bank, 500 S. Stephenson Ave. in Iron Mountain.

Contributions to the dive team can also be brought directly to the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department in Iron Mountain with memo made to the “Dive Team.”