WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Monday has been a day to remember for so many kids. The smiles and memories are courtesy of a special surf camp.
Surfers Healing is a non-profit that gives kids with autism an opportunity to hang ten.
“I really love surfing and I think it’s so cool,” participant Jacob Hajduk said.
It’s a day 12-year-old Jacob looks forward to every year. He may have autism, but that’s not stopping him from surfing.
“Yeah, I caught a few waves,” Jacob said.
Jacob’s dad, Jeff Hajduk, says they traveled from Emerald Isle to spend the day in Wrightsville Beach for the event. He says the experience is just amazing.
“Everything you go through when you raise a child on the autism spectrum, there are so many times you just feel like your on an island and when you get out here it’s just so great to see everybody together,” Hajduk said.
Melissa Moore and her family had a longer trip to the Cape Fear in order to be here, but she says that would never stop her from seeing her son catch a wave.
“The moment he got on that surfboard it was smile from ear to ear and that’s how it is now,” Moore said. “He’s not going to get out of the water all day.”
Hundreds volunteered their time to make it all happen. Moore says she’s beyond grateful for that.
“There are here to give us a break and give so much to our kids that you can’t ever repay them,” said Moore. “They are like our super stars or celebrities to us.”
Hajduk says it’s always emotional to see your son or daughter get in the water and just be so happy.
He said, “It’s a day where you are laughing and you got a tear in your eye at the same time cause you just know this a really big day for some many families here.”
While these parents may agree, the other 364 days of the year can be very tough, it’s this one day that gets them through it all.
“It’s a day that literally get us through the hardest days in the year,” Moore said. “We just think back on this time and look at the smiles and pictures. It doesn’t matter if it’s mine child in the water or another, emotions just come up every time you see one of them breaking their barriers.”
Surfers Healing is offering a day for military families who have children with autism a day to surf Tuesday in Wrightsville Beach.
This will be the first time the organization has held the event.