Dan’s son and his third-grade classmates at College Park have all done paintings that will be auctioned at the party. The proceeds will go to Graceworks Kenya which supports children orphaned by the AIDS virus.
There is another cause close to his heart. Recently, Dan put on a one-man surf-a-thon at Blackie’s, where he rode 80 waves in two hours in a fund raising effort for his friend and local surfer Jay Thomas. While surfing near the Huntington Beach pier this March, Jay bailed out to avoid hitting a rider who had dropped in on him. He hit the bottom, injuring his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. After two surgeries at UCI Medical Center, two weeks in intensive care, and over a month in Long Beach Memorial Hospital, Jay is now in a one-room rental unit in Brea. Jay’s father has temporarily re-located to join him there as primary care giver, leaving Jay’s mom to hold down the fort at the family home in Washington.
Jay’s brother, James, also very active in Jay’s recovery, says their biggest challenges are housing, and getting Jay the rehabilitation he needs to keep improving.
Their request for rehab at next-door St. Jude has been denied repeatedly by Jay’s insurance company. They’re not giving up, but in the meantime they have a lengthy trek to Long Beach Memorial.
James says Jay is improving and remains positive, “He works his butt off at rehab, jokes with the therapists, and has a great attitude. He’s my hero for sure”.
Naturally there are financial hardships. Jay’s support group of friends help by coming up with fund raising events, which in addition to Dan’s surf-a-thon, included a benefit concert at the House of Blues that featured Social Distortion. Sunday there is benefit brunch, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Spaghetti Bender, where James works and Jay worked for 10 years, tickets are $40. The restaurant’s staff is donating their time, and other local businesses, Mother’s Market, Britta’s Café, Fred’s Mexican Café, The Golden Truffle, and The Quiet Woman have donated food. You can call for information, (949) 645-0651.
Jay, James, and Dan will all be there. You can follow Jay’s story at www.jaysroadtorecovery.blogspot.com.
JOHN BURTON’S surf column appears Fridays.
