SOLANA BEACH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Real estate agents ditched their work suits for wetsuits Friday to raise awareness for adaptive athletes.
Nearly 50 surfers participated in the Surf for Impact surf competition, organized by Voit Real Estate Services and Alkaline Advisors on Friday.
The event benefited the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s surf program which provided surfers with disabilities gear, mentorship and encouragement to live an happy and active lifestyle.
One of those adaptive surfers is Sarah Bettencourt, a retired Captain’s U.S. Marine Corps military pilot and reigning women’s Para Surf Prone 1 Division World Champion.
One day flying a helicopter, she struggled to control her left arms. An MRI showed lesions on her brain, and she was later diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that meant any time she could lose all ability of her motor skills and possible permanent brain damage. Devastated, she was forced to medically retire from the military.
“After being in this terrible place for a long time I got a phone call – next thing I know I met the CAF, they took me down to the water. I’m given boards with handles to hold on to, some have more grip in certain areas, some have the fin moved up so the board can be more prone position or kneeling position,” Bettencourt said. “There were so many surfers out in the water supporting me and helping me and all of a sudden I was like ‘Holy cow, I’m doing this!’”