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YourHub.com \\ Port St Lucie \\ Stories \\ Non-profit Organizations \\ Social Events

Surfing for a Cure

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Contributed by: Keri Elwell on 7/21/2009

What an incredible day. Blue skies surround us. Wave conditions are nearly perfect at 1-3 feet. Dedicated and skilled surfers offer guidance and affection to our children. Our children are those with autism. One of the 1 in 150 children diagnosed with this disorder. For close to 5 hours, my daughter chased the waves at Stuart Public Beach. It was July 18, 2009 and Surfers for Autism organized an event that I guarantee changed not only the children with autism, but their parents, spectators, and volunteers as well. I stood there with a smile from ear to ear and my heart glowing. A complete stanger has embraced my daughter in his arms and has worked some voodoo ocean magic. She has been almost pulled out of herself by living in the moment and her anxieties are pushed aside. She and approximately 150 other children from the Treasure Coast area are laughing, paddling, spilling and surfing.
No judgement.
No dirty looks.
Complete acceptance.
Acceptance that these children are exactly that- children. As a mother, I would do anything to expand my daughter's view of the world in a safe and fun way. This free event opened my eyes to not only the skills and abilities of children on the autistic spectrum but to the dedication and love that surround these children. It was amazing to see the beach erupt into applause and praise as a child rode the waves towards the shoreline. To see the confidence and pure elation on the faces of these children that might struggle with the most day to day activities was a snapshot forever etched in my mind. There were dedicated volunteers (Thank you Tim and Mike, her awesome surf instructors!) who surfed and swam endlessly from 8 am- 2 pm, never once indicating frustration, ignorance or fatigue as the children tried to refine their surfing skills. Thank you so much Treasure Coast Surfers for Autism. Thank you for raising funds to go towards the Treasure Coast Walk Now for Autism and Autism Speaks. Thank you for providing an opportunity for my daughter and others like her to spend a day in a world where acceptance surrounded her, instead of shunned her. Thank you for helping us surf for a cure.

For more information about Surfers for Autism contact surferforautism@live.com. The next event will be held in Cocoa Beach on September 19, 2009.
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