Surfer’s Healing empowers kids with autism one wave at a time

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Surfer’s Healing Autism Foundation held their 20th annual, Surfer’s Healing Camp, in Wrightsville Beach Monday. 

The mission is to enrich people living with autism through a unique surfing experience. Over 200 children registered for the event. They put on life jackets and went out to catch some waves with an instructor’s assistance.  

Vanessa Sutton brought her son Jonathan to surf.  

She said she wasn’t sure what to expect at first but is grateful for experiences like this to make her son feel like he’s on top of the world. 

“It’s an overwhelming experience. The first time that my son came in on the surfboard. He did this little hop skip out of the water and I got teared up. I started crying because I was just so happy for how happy he was,” Sutton said. 

The group of professional surfers come from around the world to participate in over 30 camps in the U.S. helping over 2,000 kids with autism.

With the high risk for rip currents there were extra volunteers in the water and the parents were given information regarding rip currents.