From the tireless efforts of organizations like Surfrider to individuals like Dave Rastovich who put their livelihood at risk in order to have their voices be heard, I have always believed that surfing is as much about giving back as it is taking that which the ocean gives us. Confirming that belief even more, I recently came across a post from the All Men Are Liars blog that brought to my attention yet another example of the surfing community coming together and making a difference.

The Disabled Surfers Association of Australia has been in existence since 1986. The DSA was founded by surfer Gary Blaschke after he lost a kneecap in a motorcycle accident and he realized how difficult it was for people with disabilities to get into the water. Now with 12 branches around Australia and still growing, the DSA uses voluntary forces to provide those with disabilities an opportunity they would otherwise never have, a chance to ride waves.

Included in the blog post was a video of the Sydney Branch’s recent “Let’s Go Surfing Day” that saw more than 100 disabled people take to the waves at a beach in Australia. Among the participants were over 100 surfers with conditions that would have most of us asking,”Why me?” With the aid and assistance of countless volunteers, they took to the ocean and rode waves as if to say,”Why not me?”

Upon learning that the DSA is without a major sponsor from the surfing community/industry and relies heavily upon individual donations as well as funds raised from cook-outs, I decided to contact them and get more information and find out what assistance was needed. Within a couple of days I received the following letter…

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