PHILADELPHIA (June 10, 2019) – On Friday, June 14, at 11:00 am, representatives from MossRehab will be on-hand at the New Jersey Surfing Hall of Fame in Tuckerton, NJ (120 West Main Street) to receive two custom surfboards designed by science teacher and surfboard shaper Luke Alvarez. The surfboards feature inspirational artwork created by students from Carusi Middle School in Cherry Hill, NJ (where Alvarez teaches) and Pinelands Regional High School in Tuckerton, NJ. The surfboards will be used August 4 at They Will Surf Again, a free, one-day event in Wildwood, NJ that gets persons with disabilities into the ocean and riding waves with the help of volunteers. MossRehab sponsors They Will Surf Again, the flagship event of the Life Rolls On organization, and has sent close to 400 volunteers to the annual event over the last eight years.
When shaping the boards, (these will be the fourth and fifth that Alvarez’s company Generic Brand Surfboards have donated to MossRehab) Alvarez works with input from MossRehab and surfers with disabilities who have participated in They Will Surf Again in the past. The result is boards of huge proportions that make the boards extremely stable and capable of carrying the weight of two riders (a surfer and volunteer) when necessary. The deck of the boards also feature thick pads for comfort and grip and attachment points for adjustable hand straps. The artwork (one board designed by the Carusi Middle School students, the other board by Pineland Regional High students) allows for the artists’ interpretation of MossRehab’s inspirational CHALLENGE ACCEPTED motto.
"As someone who has been in the water, volunteering with surfers at They Will Surf Again, I've see first-hand how much joy the event, and the other Luke Alvarez designed boards have brought to participants," said MossRehab Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Smith. "And this year's boards, carrying the joyful artwork of the Carusi & Pinelands students, will add even more happiness and inspiration. On behalf of everyone who will use these surfboards this year, and in many years to come, thank you Luke and the talented, generous students.”
Although students at Carusi have created artwork for the surfboards in the past, this is the first year that Alvarez was able to grow this unique educational and creative opportunity to another school, Pinelands Regional High.
“As the relationship with MossRehab has grown, we have found additional opportunities to involve new students in the creation of the artwork for the surfboards used in this remarkable program,” said Alvarez. “This year, we have partnered with Pinelands Regional High School as well as students at Carusi Middle School. Each school has a group of Title 1 students that created some awesome artwork that has been laminated on a specific surfboard for each school. To see the excitement of the students when they see their own piece of art on the board is such a good feeling!”
“Mr. Luke Alvarez is an amazing Science teacher in our school. Beyond Science, he is a role model,” said Carusi Middle School principal Dr. John J. Cafagna. “His dedication to students makes him known throughout our community. His further dedication to projects with MossRehab to bring the joys of watersports to persons with disabilities demonstrates that everyone has a responsibility to inspire great change in our world. The addition of work with Ms. Dawn Fichera and Ms. Megan Sanders in our Title 1 English Language Arts support program, connected to this project, has empowered students to research and be a part of change. We are grateful for the partnership MossRehab brings to our school, allowing our students to participate in such a rewarding experience.”
They Will Surf Again will be held Sunday, August 4 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at the beach at Baker Avenue (behind the Convention Center) in Wildwood, New Jersey. Registration to volunteer or participate opens June 19. Learn more, or register, at LifeRollsOn.org/NewJersey.