News: Surfing Charity on Long Island
(Long Island, N.Y.) An organization called Surf for All held an event for blind children on Long Island. The event, which occurred this week, took place in Long Beach. More than a dozen children showed up to learn how to enjoy the Long Island surf.
Two of the organization’s founders are brothers from Long Beach and are accredited as world class surfers. Some of the children they helped teach to surf live in a world of total darkness. Others see with some sense of light and may experience tunnel or limited vision.
They instruct the children to feel the surfboards with their hands while the experienced surfers stand on the board. Instructors guide the children’s feet, hands, and legs while helping to position them properly on the surfboard. These instructions help give the children a feel for surfing until they are ready to practice taking waves from Long Island beaches.
The children begin surfing in two foot waves and the water is not quite over their heads. The conditions are safe and conducive for a beginners surfing experience, allowing the children to get the best of both worlds. They take to the water wearing life preservers for extra measures of safety.
Lifeguards surround the children, monitoring their every action within the water. Reports stated that more than double the amount of children showed for this year’s event as compared to last year’s turnout. Sources claimed that the children enjoyed the experience so much that they spread the word, allowing many others to participate in the beach day.
Many of the organization’s previous events have helped children with autism. They have also included children with disabilities and wounded warriors. Some of the participants have served time overseas in the military in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.
The event has warmed the hearts of many of the participants’ parents who have also attended the day at the beach. Reports stated that they claimed to be in awe of their children’s accomplishments. They claimed that they never would have believed they would have gotten the opportunity to see their children surf. The participants, also in a state of shock, have helped to encourage each other.
This event comes just days after the tragic news concerning the fate of a teacher from Long Beach High School. The late teacher, who was also an avid surfer, had disappeared during a surfing trip in Indonesia. His body was found near the beach where he was last seen surfing the waves.
The popular teacher taught math and was the coach of the high school’s surfing team. He had been traveling across various countries in recent months, and had been accompanied by his wife and friend.
