Going Places with Dina Guzzardo
The Jersey Shore is fortunate to be the home of so many amazing charitable organizations, and Heart of Surfing is at the top of that list, giving kids with special needs a safe and fun day out surfing the swells of our local beaches. Originally set up in 2014 by Shore Local Magazine owners, Cindy and Bob Fertsch, Heart of Surfing was created to serve the autistic community and over the years has grown into a staple of several special needs circles offering both a physical and creative outlet to so many children. Cindy and Bob first started Heart of Surfing for their son Jamie when they noticed the lack of organized activities that were targeted for those living with special needs. Bob, being an avid surfer his entire life, always dreamed of sharing that passion with his children. Their son, Jamie, was diagnosed with autism at a young age, but this did not deter Bob from allowing Jamie to experience the thrill of riding the perfect wave. Seeing the joy that surfing brought to Jamie, or “The Big Kahuna” as Bob would call him, inspired Cindy and Bob to search for different ways Jamie could experience the sport he loved. In 2014 they discovered an organization called “Surfers Healing” on the West Coast which provided surfing sessions for children with autism. Surfers Healing would come to New Jersey one day a year and put on a session for families with autism in the local area, however these spaces would fill up incredibly fast leaving so many children without the opportunity to participate. After speaking with some of her friends who also had children with special needs, Cindy and Bob decided that they would put on their own version of Surfers Healing right here in South Jersey. The first week consisted of only 5 people, mainly close friends and family, but once the ball got rolling, the members grew exponentially and by the end of that first summer, they already had 50 kids participating. Then, after an appearance on the Dr Oz show which included generous donations of $5000 from the show and 5 stand-up paddle boards (SUPs) from Ron Jon surf shop, Heart of Surfing became a 501c3 nonprofit organization, offering surfing, skateboarding and more for families with special needs.
Now, Heart of Surfing amasses around 200 members each year, with on average up to a 100 kids each week. Every Saturday over the summer, Heart of Surfing sets themselves up on a beach in the local area and invites special needs families to come and get 30 minutes of surfing completely free. The kids are of varying abilities and ages and the great thing about the organization is that they create a unique experience for every participant. “Our number one goal is to create a positive experience for everyone. That looks very different for each participant. For some, you may not even know they are on the autism spectrum. They’re up, they’re shredding, they’re doing fantastic. For others, like my son, it may be that they never stand up. It may just be they are going in the water and laying on a board, but that’s big for them” said Cindy. Heart of Surfing also allows siblings to join in and recognizes how this is a great bonding opportunity for families.
The only way any of this amazing work would be possible is with the help of volunteers. Each year, the beach patrols of numerous local beaches kindly donate a day to help with running the event. This helps determine which beach they will be surfing on that week and moving around helps to make it accessible for kids all over Atlantic and Cape May County. Around 30 individuals from the beach patrol volunteer their time to take the kids out surfing, bring boards for the kids to use, and donate water bottles. One year, a beach patrol even brought a DJ. Overall, the volunteers make it much more enjoyable for the kids. Heart of Surfing is fortunate to have a core group of volunteers from the local surf community come each week to volunteer. Heart of Surfing is always looking for help – the more volunteers they have, the more kids and families they can serve.
Sadly, earlier this year we had to say goodbye to Cindy and Bob’s son Jamie, who passed unexpectedly. Heart of Surfing lives on in his legacy and to commemorate his life, Cindy and Bob have created the Jamie Fertsch Memorial Scholarship. This, along with their already established annual scholarship, is one of two $2000 scholarships that Heart of Surfing will give out each year to a deserving volunteer who has gone above and beyond in the Heart of Surfing community. This is a truly touching way to remember Jamie who was the inspiration for this organization and a huge part of its success. There are also plans to organize a “paddle out” with the group whereby participants take their surf boards into the ocean making a circle and releasing a carnation into the open sea, while remembering some of the uplifting and beautiful moments that remind them of Jamie.
For Cindy, what makes Heart of Surfing so special is the sense of community it brings by attracting local families that are facing similar challenges and allowing them to share advice and support each other. It’s always a comfort to bond with other families that understand first-hand the challenges of raising an autistic child. For that reason, Cindy and Bob have no plans to grow Heart of Surfing into anything more than a community-based organization aiming to help local families with special needs.
Going into their 7th summer this year, things will be a little different because of COVID-19. Although plans of how they will handle it have not been finalized yet due to the rules and regulations constantly changing as we learn new information, what can be guaranteed is that the kids will continue to have some of the most unforgettable experiences of their life. Heart if Surfing recognizes that this year everyone is having to do things a differently, however they are still committed to providing the best experience possible. If you want to see what Heart of Surfing is all about and have a special needs child or children you think would be interested, the best thing to do is keep up to date with the Facebook page “Heart of Surfing” as they will be posting updates about the plans for this year. One of the best things about this organization is that they provide their sessions absolutely free for anyone wanting to participate, demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity for all.
Although surfing is the main activity the organization participates in, there are also a wide variety of other opportunities for kids who may not be comfortable in the water. Pre and post surf season, Heart of Surfing hosts skateboarding sessions in various local skate parks. In fact, this year they were due to have an event in partnership with AC Skates which unfortunately had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. They also run sensory-friendly ice skating and roller-skating sessions along with seasonal activities.
If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer, there are several opportunities to do so. Currently, Heart of Surfing is looking for a volunteer to help with running their website page. So, if you are a college student looking for some extra credit or are just feel passionate about this cause and would like to offer your services, please text Cindy at 609-705-5323. Additionally, if you would like to volunteer as a surf instructor you can text Cindy and see what opportunities she has available. Heart of Surfing is a non-profit organization and is only able to bring these amazing experiences to special needs kids by the generosity of so many people. If you are interested in supporting Heart of Surfing but do not feel as though as you can help with any of the hands-on duties, you can make a donation of any amount or there is a selection of branded merchandise for sale. Donations can be made in their website at HeartofSurfing.org
What started out as a small group on the beach trying to create a fun and safe environment for their children with autism has become the must-do event of the summer for non-specific special needs families. This is another example of a great organization that is not allowing the current situation to stand in their way, and with the recent relaxation on restrictions Heart of Surfing is eagerly awaiting the moment they can officially announce “Surf’s Up!”
