Letter from the editor
I stood up! I stood up! cried 16 year-old Chloe Bryne on Saturday morning. Her joy was palpable as she jumped up and down on the sandy shore of the Brigantine Beach. Chloe, who has Down’s Syndrome, a prosthetic foot, and a contagious smile has been participating in the Heart of Surfing organization since its inception in 2014.
Heart of Surfing’s mission is to give those with special needs the opportunity to enjoy the waves and the grandeur of the ocean. For some that means standing up on their surfboards for the first time. For others, it is paddling around on their board, riding a wave on their belly or even just experiencing being in the ocean for the first time. We meet our water enthusiasts wherever they are, and create a fun and safe experience for them.
This past Saturday, Brigantine Beach Patrol along with the Brigantine Fire Department and Primal Surf Shop teamed up with Heart of Surfing to create a special event for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities to go surfing.
The day was perfection. As the sun shone down and the waves lightly crashed on the shore, the special needs surfers were having the time of their lives. The volunteers were equally stoked to share the joy of surfing. As I walked around thanking the volunteers for their time and service, they were thanking me even more. Bob and I often get a lot of the credit when it comes to Heart of Surfing but the truth is, we receive so much more than we give. The smiles, the excitement, and the sheer joy that we see in our surfers is unmatched. The people and organizations that come together to give of themselves with no expectations of getting anything in return is awe inspiring.
Although it seems to defy reason, it is true that the more you give, the more you have. You have more joy, more compassion, more understanding, more empathy and more of all those invisible things that simply make us feel better about who we are.
The coolest part of Saturday’s event was how many community organizations and individuals came together to make it happen. A community is only as strong as its ability to include all the people within it, disability or no disability. Brigantine took a stand for an inclusive community and it was amazing!
Heart of Surfing started five years ago as a very small group and has grown significantly over the years. We’ve turned to the community for support to make it possible and we are overwhelmed with the positive response we have gotten from so many municipalities. Ocean City, Margate, Longport, Atlantic City and Wildwood in conjunction with Dean Randazzo are all hosting surfing events for those with special needs this summer. The surf community as a whole, including surf shops such as Heritage, 7th Street, Surfer Supplies, Jersey Devil and AC Surf School have all been so supportive.
As special needs parents and founders of the vision, we can’t thank you enough for making our dream a reality for so many.
Peace
& Love,
Cindy
