Surf2Heal
About Surf2Heal
Surf2Heal is a non profit organization created By Jon Hynes the owner of GTown Surf School in Kinsale in Cork, his wife Alayne and Nollaig Hayes a Garretstown resident whose son Sean is on the autism spectrum.
Nollaig who saw the enormous benefits that the sea had on her son Sean approached Jon to ask him to teach her son to surf, as she had come across a group in America called Surfers Healing who were successfully running a surf camp for children with autism. Jon suggested a research mission to Nollaig. Needing no persuading they agreed and in a matter of weeks Jon, Alayne, Nollaig and Sean were on a plane to Mexico to visit the Surfers Healing team.
The trip was a great success and on their return in May 2008, Surf2Heal was created as a non-profit organization here in Ireland. A national call for volunteers was made and a team of enthusiastic surfers, care workers, special needs professionals and water worshipers came together eager to share their expertise and love of the ocean.
With the support of the local sports partnership and Cork Association for Autism a comprehensive training programme for volunteers was set up that included water safety, autism awareness and child protection. Special equipment was ordered from England and following a few weekends of training the team were ready to pilot the new Surf 2 Heal programme.
In August 2008, on a clear Summers morning the volunteers took to the water. Surf2Heals first week long camp for children with autism was initiated and 43 children were introduced to surfing for the first time.
Following its success in 2008, in 2009, with the help of the regional sports partnerships and surf schools Surf2Heal hosted surf camps in Co. Cork (Garettstown, Inchidoney), Kerry (Banna Beach), Clare (Fanore) and Waterford (Tramore).
Run entirely by a team of committed volunteers who freely give their time, energy and enthusiasm, Surf2Heal is continuing to go from strength to strength and enabling more and more young people to enjoy the ocean and its benefits.
