JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – Dozens of surfers caught some waves Saturday morning in Jacksonville Beach with the help of Brooks Rehabilitation’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation program.
More than 80 athletes rode the waves at Brooks Rehabilitation’s annual event in Jacksonville Beach, giving those experiencing some physical and mental impairments a chance to surf.
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Armando Real Cintron, who’s 10 years old, surfed for the first time ever on Saturday.
He has cerebral palsy after being born 24 weeks premature, weighing a little more than 1 pound in 2014.
Nicole Cintron, Armando’s mother, said seeing him surf was indescribable.
“Watching him hold on and be surrounded by a safety net where he can feel like he is surfing like everybody else, was amazing. He was excited since last night. He was like ‘Am I really going surfing?’” she said.
Danny Moloney was also among the participants.
He was born with Down syndrome and has participated in this event for almost 10 years.
“I want to do it again and again and again and again. It’s fine,” Moloney said.
Moloney’s dad, Jim, was there supporting his son.
“You are seeing people breakthrough with some goals that they probably could have never imagined accomplishing. To see that smile of success,” Jim Moloney said.
Megan Hyman, director of the Brooks Rehabilitation Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program, said this free community event is transformational.
“It brings it full circle as to why we are here and why we do what we do, and ultimately the simplicity and the beauty of just enjoyment in life, and that quality of life that every single person deserves,” Hyman said.
This was a record-breaking year for this particular event, with more than 250 volunteers and more than 80 participants in the water.
Tristan Ballinger also participated in this year’s event.
News4JAX first introduced you to Ballinger two years ago at this same event. He suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2016 that put him in a coma for six weeks.
That has not stopped him from coming back for more fun this time.
“You feel free in the water,” Ballinger said.
