We can help individuals with disabilities so they can live a limitless life

In Hawaiian, ho’omau means to persevere; to never give up. Jay Liesener was the embodiment of ho’omau. As a boy, Jay was a multi-sport athlete who loved to swim and play in the ocean. At the age of 17, he broke his neck, rendering him a quadriplegic. Determined to not be defined by his injury, Jay earned a master’s degree from the University of Maryland and taught at Norfolk State University. He married his college sweetheart Melanie. The demands and stresses of teaching proved too great for Jay’s wheelchair-bound body, but he refused to idly waste away what remained of his life. Instead, after finding inspiration in Jesse Billauer’s Life Rolls On, he rediscovered his love for the water.

For nearly a decade, Jay and his always-present support group, Team Surfgimp, caught waves while inspiring curious beachgoers. The team called Delaware home, but traveled to Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and California as one big family, conquering preconceived limitations together.

Ho'omau also means to perpetuate, and to continue in a way that causes good to be long-lasting. In honor of Jay’s ho’omau, the Surfgimp Foundation was created in November 2017 just prior to Jay passing away. The purpose of the Surfgimp Foundation is to provide grants for disabled people who want to experience their dreams the way Jay was able to experience his.

I will be running a half marathon in December in honor of this wonderful organization. Thank you so much for your support!

#surfgimpfoundation

Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for The Surfgimp Foundation