By Krystle J Bailey
Two deserving teenagers received $2,500 scholarships this month in recognition of their volunteer efforts with the local non-profit organization, Heart of Surfing. Lila Ann King and Chase Frieman, the two recent graduates, spent the last several summers volunteering in the water for a good cause.
“Heart of Surfing is beyond special to me; I love to surf, but I also have a passion for working with young adults with special needs,” shared 18-year-old Lila, who is heading to Montclair State University in the fall.
Heart of Surfing, founded in 2014 by Cindy and Bob Fertsch, was inspired by their son Jamie, who loved riding the waves. Jamie was born in 1994 and diagnosed with autism in 1997 at a time when special needs support was limited.
Cindy and Bob began Heart of Surfing as a way to offer a healthy outlet for their son, who thrived in the water. Of course, everything is more fun with friends, so Heart of Surfing quickly took off. A few friends and a surfboard turned into 50+ participants by the end of the first summer. Nine years later, over 100 kids and young adults living with special needs hit the waves together every weekend with the resources and support provided by Heart of Surfing.
“We started Heart of Surfing for Jamie,” explained Cindy. “When he suddenly passed at the beginning of 2020, we were so heartbroken we didn’t know if we could continue. But then again, how could we not? What better way could there be to honor our son’s legacy?”
Following the unexpected passing of their son, The Jamie Fertsch Scholarship was introduced to Heart of Surfing. This scholarship joined the existing Liam’s Legacy Annual Scholarship in honor of Liam Bradley, who passed away at the age of 12.
Eighteen-year-old Lila Ann King, recipient of the Jamie Fertsch Scholarship is attending Montclair University as a student-athlete and marketing major. Chase Frieman, the recipient of the Liam’s Legacy Scholarship, is going on to study finance at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Chase and Lila are among the many volunteers that travel from beach to beach with Heart of Surfing every week. Each week’s location varies. As the demand for surfing lessons grew, Cindy and Bob began to involve local beach patrol and fire departments in the various shore towns. While Ocean City is the “home” beach for Heart of Surfing, the group can now be found in Atlantic City, Longport, Margate, Brigantine and North Wildwood, depending on the week. The crew hits the sand every Saturday in the summer, complete with over 100 children with special needs, their siblings, and more than 60 volunteers eager to experience the joy of the water together.
“We made the decision early to serve families instead of just the person with autism,” explained Cindy, who also has two adult daughters. “It’s hard being a sibling to a special needs child sometimes, so we made sure to include something for them as well.”
Heart of Surfing is supported by several sponsors, including platinum sponsor Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, who donated surfboards, life vests, and wetsuits for all the participants. This week, the members of the Mainland Unified Sports organization are donating their time, and the Ocean City Knights of Columbus offer their regular support.
When they’re not in the water, Cindy, Bob, and their volunteer team offer countless opportunities for individuals with special needs to experience movement, playfulness, and adventure together in a safe environment. Other programs include adaptive skateboarding clinics, sensory-friendly roller skating and ice skating, along with other special events.
Events are 100 percent volunteer driven and free to participants. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. The mission is to create smiles and memories for families.
“It gives my son a sense of community and belonging,” shared Tracy Adamczyk, whose son Kevin has been participating in the Heart of Surfing program for several years. “The volunteers are all so willing to help! They meet your child where they are at and help them have a special experience. My son never wants to miss Heart of Surfing.”
Information and registration for adaptive surfing can be found at heartofsurfing.org.
For volunteer information, call or text Cindy at 609-705-5323.
Krystle J Bailey is a multimedia journalist, author and poet. Connect with Krystle on Instagram @thedailybailey5
