In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Brandon Bellegarde was inspired by his best friend, Brock Johnson. Brock had survived a tragic diving accident and broke his neck. After the accident he became a quadriplegic, thinking he would never be able to surf again. But Brandon wanted to see his friend surf and created the non-profit organization Adaptive Surf Project. The organization builds and gives away surfboards for individuals with special needs and takes them surfing.
Brandon brought some board designs to local shaper Todd Sutz from Island Inspired and the whole idea soon became a reality. Inspired by adaptive pro surfer Jesse Billauer’s Life Rolls On, Adaptive Surf Project (ASP) held a huge event called Wheel to Surf. Every year they hold two major events located in Garden City, South Carolina and another in Folly Beach, South Carolina. The love is growing, with the help of 200 plus volunteers and more than 50 adaptive surfers in each event.
Today the co-founders, teacher Luke Sharp, James Samaha, together with Brock Johnson and others like ex fire fighter Jim Holland, are the leaders of this movement. And they’re creating amazing stories, like that of Maximiliam, a boy who has type 1SMA, which took his ability to move his arms or legs and cannot even hold his head up without assistance. Max’s parents were really worried about him being able to surf but in the end he was able to catch waves with assistance from the Adaptive Surf Project crew. Naturally, after the wave, Maximiliam simply described it as “EPIC!!!.”
The smiles and joy are everything, share the love and aloha, share Wheel to Surf movement.
Editor’s Note: You can get involved with the Wheel to Surf events in South Carolina as either a volunteer or even a surfer. You can follow them on Instagram and on Facebook.
