WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The annual Surfers Healing Camp brought hundreds of families to the beach for some surf, sand and fun.
The organization is a non-profit that runs camps for autistic children on both the east and west coasts of the country. Organizers said the event today at Wrightsville Beach had around 450 families signed up from around the country. The camp pairs a professional surfer with an autistic child for a day on the water. They also said it’s the 10th year the camp has been held at Wrightsville Beach.
Karen Jones-Brown says her 6-year-old son was diagnosed with autism, but with the help of Surfers Healing he was able to surfing Monday. Her son had participated in the event the past 3 years.
“He loves to get out there and stand up on the surfboard like he’s been doing it his whole life,” said Jones-Brown.
She added that she so grateful for the helpful volunteers with the organizations.
Jones-Brown says, “They are wonderful to donate their time and expertise to help children like my son to feel important and to feel special.”
Joshua Torres is the surfer that took her son out in the water. He has been apart of the Surfers Healing organization for 4 years.
Torres says, “It was just a way of kind of giving back to society in the one way I could and it’s through surfing.”
“For parents, it’s cool to see their kid doing something so out of ordinary and for us to make it possible it’s the best thing,” he said.
The event continues Tuesday at the Stone Street beach access from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.