Local "THERAsurf" Organization Teaches Kids with Disailities How to Surf
For the last three years, a small non-profit organization named THERAsurf has been quietly changing the lives of young children with developmental disabilities. Founded and run by Malibu couple Kim and Jimmy Gamboa, volunteers of this local, donation-based organization have dedicated themselves to bringing the experience of surfing into the lives of kids who may never have had the chance. Motivated by a very personal life-experience, Kim Bordenvave Gamboa saw the change in her own son, diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome, in which patients are frequently nonverbal, and generally have movement and balance impairment. As Kim and her son began spending time at the beach, she watched him fall in love with the stimulation it provided. After that, THERAsurf was born.
THERAsurf quickly grew, uniting kids like Kim’s son with other children afflicted with different types of disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries and Down syndrome. A longtime professional surfer, Jimmy Gamboa felt completely comfortable taking these kids into the surf, allowing them to slowly acclimate to the water, the waves, and the sights and sounds of the ocean. It didn’t take long before friends of the Gamboa family were volunteering to do the same, spending time with each child and adapting to their needs. “My surfing buddies are all guys I went to school with,” Jimmy said. “They’re good water men and I trust them.”
Jimmy lined up sponsorships and donations from local Malibu businesses such as Duke’s Restaurant and Val Surf to help with the purchasing costs of Coast Guard-approved life vests, surf boards, wet suits and insurance. Parents quickly starting signing their children up for this program, desperate to give their son or daughter a chance to be involved in such a uniquely therapeutic experience: relaxing yet exhilarating, challenging yet achievable. While Kim and the other parents started noticing improved balance and fine motor skills in the kids, they also started seeing a change in personality. Being in the water with Jimmy and the other volunteers made the children happier, calmer, and more confident in themselves than they had ever been. “The happiness at their accomplishment is palpable. Their parents are in tears” says Kim.
Part of THERAsurf’s mission is to “aspire to create a can-do environment in a world full of limitations… We honor the life-altering effects of these experiences and the unforgettable memories they provide for the kids and their families.” The children in this program relish the opportunity to be part of the surf culture that is so common in Malibu; however, they are also receiving something that is maybe not as common- the loving kindness of a stranger who is just as honored to be a part of the experience.
Prepared by : LET Heather Fuquay
Media Release Date: October 16, 2014
* Lost Hills Sheriff's Station polices the Cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village, and the unincorporated communities of Chatsworth Lake Manor, Malibu Lake, Topanga, and West Hills:
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