Chase’s foundation teams up to grow Unified Para-Surf Life Saving Program
SOMERS POINT – Bruckner Chase said his Ocean Positive organization is partnering with Orca Sportswear, an international wetsuit and endurance sports clothing company based in Spain, to continue growing their groundbreaking Blue Journey Unified Para-Surf Life Saving Sports Program.
The program provides ongoing opportunities for adults with spinal cord injuries and similar movement disorders or disease to take part in the core disciplines of international surf life saving sports: swimming, prone paddling and kayaking.
Athletes spend the winter training in the Ocean City Aquatic and Fitness Center pool and the summers in the bays and lakes of southern New Jersey.
This year the group plans to supplement its larger weekly session with more individualized small-group and one-on-one training opportunities.
The highlight of the summer will again be their Aug. 6 Molokai 2 Oahu Anything Goes Virtual Paddle and Community Open House at Autumn Lake Winery’s lake in Williamstown.
Launched in 2012 in partnership with the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation, Blue Journey Unified’s programs have always been free to adult athletes with spinal cord injuries and disease, and the program’s reach now expands far beyond southern New Jersey as they now work with Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, The University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia and Surf Life Saving Queensland to expand training and sport opportunities for Australians with spinal cord injuries and disorders.
Orca joins existing partners GU Energy Labs and Epic Kayaks and Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive will use the new support in 2023 to expand the reach and diversity of opportunities that the program offers.
Since 2012 the program vision has been to bring together people with and without Spinal Cord Injuries and Disease (SCI/D) for open-water recreation, fitness, and competition through the removal of physical and social barriers while also providing an ongoing, sustainable impact on quality of life and the development of community.
The program uses aquatic activities practiced in surf lifesaving sports around the world including swimming, prone paddleboarding and surfski kayaking. The new and existing partnerships in 2023 will help expand the existing program offerings including work to improve community perception of how access to aquatic sports can benefit everyone in our community.
Ocean Positive has also increased the amount of sports equipment available and the frequency of ongoing sessions.
Additionally, the plan for 2023 includes more support for those wanting to compete at a higher level with more access to coached and supported training times and equipment. Through these program enhancements Ocean Positive is furthering its vision of empowering people with SCI/D to lead healthier and more inclusive lives at a higher quality of life connected to our natural waters and a diverse, supportive local community.
“When Bacharach first approached me in 2012 about developing an open water-based program to help those living with spinal cord injuries connect to our natural waters I never imagined the reach and collateral positive impact we would have well beyond the athletes we were originally charged with supporting,” Chase, CEO of the Ocean Positive Foundation, said.
“The last two years have been extremely challenging for us and more importantly for our athletes who are very impacted by in-person service shutdowns and isolation,” he added. “We have shared this program around the world, and we could not be more excited and honored to be entering 2022 with the support of the Reeve Foundation to strengthen our home community in south Jersey.”
