Sun, surf and smiles as Life Rolls On

Sun, surf and smiles as Life Rolls On
Day of surfing for people with spinal cord injuries
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Beachgoers flocked to the Jersey Shore this weekend, but none enjoyed themselves as much as a group who gathered on the beachfront to catch a wave, some for the first time.

CHRIS KELLY staff Volunteers are watchful as Keaghlan Strauss, Toms River, rides a wave during the Life Rolls On Foundation's "They Will Surf Again," event held at the Long Branch oceanfront June 28.
The Life Rolls On Foundation held its second annual "They Will Surf Again" [TWSA] event at Pier Village in Long Branch on June 28, and according to a post-event press release, more than 25 participants and 200 volunteers gathered to make a day of surfing possible for people with spinal cord injuries.

"Injured athletes from around the country gathered together for a day of surfing. Some have not surfed since their injury, some have never surfed, some surf all the time despite their varying mobility," according to the Life Rolls On website.

Event organizer Joe Levy said the early part of the day is the hardest, while everything gets easier once the participants hit the water.

CHRIS KELLY staff Joe Cali, Hazlet, is all smiles after riding a wave during "They Will Surf Again," an event held to allow people with spinal cord injuries to experience the exhilaration of surfing.
"Registration is the hardest part," Levy said in an interview on the beach. "We are now over that hurdle.

"Once they get out on the waves, the day moves fast."

California-based Life Rolls On has held TWSA events across the country, including in California, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.

This is the 24th event held since 2004 and the second consecutive year the program is taking place in Long Branch.

TWSA is the flagship event for LRO, but the foundation has also held several golf events this year as well as its first ski event in California.

Levy was in charge of organizing the participants as well as the nearly 200 volunteers.

He organized the surfers and volunteers into teams identified by the color of their wetsuits and also assigned the volunteers land roles or water roles.

"Everybody has a role," Levy said. "There are five to seven roles per team, from water to land."

With the organization of the event out of the way, safety remained the most important issue.

"Safety is a main concern in an event like this," Levy said, while addressing the crowd of volunteers.

"We use what they call training surfboards," volunteer Vincent Blais, Old Bridge, said. "They have soft bottoms, so in case someone gets hit with one, they won't really hurt."

The water-based teams were split into three levels: deep water where the surfers start, midway, and shallow.

Some of the volunteers explained the roles of the deep-water positions.

"There are two people pushing from behind," Tony Aufiero, Wall, said. "I am one of the ones guiding the board from the sides."

"The deep-water part is pretty challenging," Noel Fitzpatrick, Belmar, said. "I am swimming around making sure everyone on the team and everyone surfing is all right.

"The tide is low and the water is very shallow," added Fitzpatrick, who works as a surfing instructor in Ocean Grove.

While the deep-water portion is certainly challenging, Old Bridge resident Jennifer Kieliszewski explained that the shallow end is challenging too.

"The most important part is the transfer and the position on the board," Kieliszewski said. "The positioning on the board of the surfer is what I mostly look at. It's important to make sure they are on the board right and to make sure their heads aren't in the water."

While the volunteers are crucial for TWSA, the day really is about the participants.

For Ian James, Neptune, TWSA is a chance to reclaim his surfing days.

James, who was injured while serving in the U.S. Air Force, was very grateful for the chance to get in the water.

"It's phenomenal," James said. "These people went out of their way to help. I'm looking forward to surfing. There is a beautiful break out there today."

Just the experience of being on the beach among a large group of people was a positive for him.

"It's nice for people to get out of the house, to get out of the hospital bed and socialize like this," James said. "It's good for everybody."

He thanked everyone involved in the day.

"The sponsors, the volunteers, the participants, it's all great," James said.

"I want to give a huge thank you to everyone," he said, adding, "I am really, really appreciative of this opportunity."

James' words rang true with Justin Ubel, who had just come out of the water and was having sunscreen applied.

"I love it, it's beautiful out there," Ubel said. "I just want to thank everyone for doing this." had just come out of the water and was having sunscreen applied.

"I love it, it's beautiful out there," Ubel said. "I just want to thank everyone for doing this. " Many participants were once experienced surfers, but less experienced surfers still were able to enjoy the day.

Malik Jones, Newark, was one of the firsttime surfers to join in the fun.

"I've been once already," Jones said. "There's a first time for everything.

"It was calm out there," he said. "It's peaceful out there. I'd definitely come back next year."

Jaclyn Daya, Old Bridge, another first-time surfer, was looking forward to getting in the water.

"I am excited for my first time surfing," Daya said. "I used to love being in the water.

"We have great weather," Daya added. "I am looking forward to getting out there."

Most of the participants and volunteers agreed that the event has grown dramatically since last year.

"I came last year," Tyler Ryan, of Montgomery, N.Y., said. "It's really fun, it's different. Last year was a lot smaller."

"It's a lot better than last year," John Harris, Doylestown, Pa., said.

Ryan said he is hoping that these events continue.

"It's a great organization," Ryan said. "I hope they continue to hold events like this."

While the surfers all said they immensely enjoyed being in the water, at least one parent admitted she might not have shared the same sentiment at first.

For Tom Pisano, Milford, TWSA represents a chance to regain his athletic past, but for his mother, Maureen, it was a stressful day last year.

"This is his second year," Maureen said. "It has been very enjoyable this year.

"Last year I was a nervous wreck," Maureen added. "Now I know what to expect."

For Tom, who was injured while skiing, the day is a chance to again regain his athleticism and be out in the sun.

"It's good, it's a nice day," Tom said. "It's good to get some sun.

"This is one of the best things I've done since I got hurt two and a half years ago."

"He just loves doing these things," his mother said. "He is very athletic."

While June set rainfall records, the sun was shining on TWSA.

"Looks like we've been blessed with good weather again," Levy said. "After five and a half weeks of rain, it looks like the rain disappeared for a TWSA event.

"We are very grateful for the weather," he said. "It's the perfect beach day."

"I expected it to rain," Ryan said.

"It's great that we got some good weather," Aufiero said.

According to two young local volunteers, it was a good day to be out on the waves.

"[The water is] about 70 degrees," Jack Collins, Shrewsbury, said. "Decent waves, it's not bad.

"They are about 3 feet high," Collins continued, adding, "from your knee to your waist, in surfing terms."

His friend Bennett Moss heard about the event fromhismother andwas happy to be involved.

"It's really great," Moss said. "Everyone comes together."

"Seeing them catch the wave makes you feel good about yourself," Collins added.

While anyone can volunteerwith Life Rolls On, some volunteers had a connection through their work in the occupational therapy field.

"I try to help out wherever I can," Brittany Beckmann said. "I work at an exercise rehab place, so that is how I found out about this.

"This is my first time here," she added. "I think it's amazing."

Beckmann went on to say that the day was well worth the work put in.

"I've never been a part of anything like this before," Beckmann said.

"Seeing all the excitement and enthusiasm on their faces is the best part," Beckmann said. "It's been so much fun."

Teresa Ciullo and Liz Wolff work as therapists in Hoboken, and some of their patients made their way down to the beach for They Will Surf Again.

"It's awesome being able to do this," Wolff said.

"Where we work, there are a lot of patients here," Ciullo said. "It is kind of like a reunion."

The way the surfing is structured, four participants go out for about 45 minutes at a time and all will go out multiple times throughout the day.

"I went on about eight or nine runs while I was out there before," Pisano said.

"Last year I went out there about eight times," Ubel added.

For the volunteers, the reward of being involved is in the joy being able to surf brings to the participants.

"Seeing the smiles on people's faces is the best part," Blais said. "You can't wipe the smiles off their faces."

"Seeing their faces, I love it," Aufiero agreed. "I really do."

"It's a lot of fun," Kieliszewski said. "This is my first one; it's cool seeing them out there."

According to Levy, funding for the event comes from sponsors, donations and grants.

The day also included a raffle for a surfboard, a surf plate, a fishing rod, massage gift certificates and T-shirts.

Life Rolls On will hold another TWSA event in New Jersey on Sept. 27 in Cape May.

For more information or to volunteer, visit the website at www.liferollson.org.

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.


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