Surfers for Autism brings smiles to Flagler Beach

By Shanna Fortier
| 4:00 a.m. August 18, 2014

Caleb Crockett catches a wave with the help of volunteer Logan Hayes at the Surfers for Autism event held in Flagler Beach Saturday. PHOTOS BY SHANNA FORTIER

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

The shoreline on the north side of Flagler Beach was lined with proud parents Saturday, Aug. 16, some watching their children go in the ocean for the first time, others watching them stand on a surf board the first time and all watching the joy beam from their children’s faces. It was the fifth-annual First Coast Surfers for Autism Beach Festival and the beach was packed with local volunteers as well as participants.

“Yesterday was our first Surfers for Autism event (definitely not our last),” one mother, Lexi Rodriguez, wrote on the event’s Facebook page. “All the volunteers were so wonderful. While I didn't think my boys were going to last the whole day, they did. What made it even more of a great day is later on at dinner I asked my oldest, who's mainly non-verbal if he had fun at the beach today. I wasn't expecting an answer but after staring at me for a min he says, ‘best beach ever.’ Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for the experience.”