When Jesse Billauer was 17, he broke his neck while surfing and became a quadriplegic. You’ve heard of him–he’s one of surfing’s most inspiring people. Since that life-changing accident, he has changed countless lives. Most recently, he did it at an event in New York, at Rockaway Beach.
It was an adaptive surfing event called “They Will Surf Again,” put on by Billauer’s Life Rolls On Foundation. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to lend a hand, and almost $10,000 was raised for the participants.
“I got to help five other kids surfing over there,” said Arthur Hoyt, father of Ollie, one of the kids involved. “I got to go surfing with my son–it couldn’t be better.”
For many, it was the first time they’ve experienced surfing, and even the beach. “This is the first time I’ve done this since I haven’t been able to walk and I haven’t been able to go to the beach at all so this is great,” Shannon Shifrin told CBS2.
One would imagine that events like this are a beacon of light that all is not lost. “If you can do something that’s as challenging and as unlikely for you when you have a disability as this, “said Alex Elegudin from Wheeling Forward, “you can do many other things.”
