Cystic Fibrosis Patients Tear Up the Waves at Thalia Street

With the help of Hans Hagen, the Mauli Ola Foundation, and several pro surfers, there were lots of kids and adults in the water surfing at on Saturday morning.

*Click the box on the right to see photos from the event. -->

This may not seem like a big deal, but it is to people who have cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease which affects the lungs and digestive system.

Most of us take breathing for granted. But patients with CF suffer from persistent coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, stuffy noses and the inability to exercise. Surfing, however, is one activity which helps "CFers" to thrive.

According to Mauli Ola Foundation treasurer Nicole Dunlop, about five years ago, her brother-in-law and CEO of Ambry Genetics, Charles Dunlop, read an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. The article stated that doctors were recommending that children with CF try surfing. Kids and adults with CF had better lung function and fewer hospital visits if they participated in surfing.

It turns out that the salty airborne water found just above the surface of the ocean allows for chemical changes in the lungs of CFers. Known as hypertonic saline, this salty mist is a natural remedy which loosen the viscous substance clogging the lungs and nasal passages of CF patients.

Charles Dunlop and his brother James Dunlop, Vice-President of Operations at Ambry Genetics, are both lifelong surfers. In 2007, they decided to start the Mauli Ola Foundation. Mauli Ola means "breath of life" in Hawaiian, and professional surfers have volunteered their time to help give the breath of life to people with CF.

Through Surf Experience Days, MOF has provided surfing instruction to over 1,000 CF patients. Pro surfers involved with MOF go to hospitals to visit patients with genetic diseases, cancer, and other health challenges.

"I love the joy that we see from the kids," said Nicole Dunlop. "People that we've become friends with through the foundation are like our family now. We can see that surfing actually really does help, and it's a natural treatment for people with CF. They don't have to have as many treatments as they normally do a day, and they just feel better."

"Parents of kids who have surfed consistently have seen a rise in lung function," said Dunlop. "We know it works. My husband's a surfer, and surfers say, 'If you feel sick, you go in the water and you feel better.'"

Dunlop explained that the action of paddling, the hypertonic saline, and even salt water entering the lungs from a "wipe out" can help the CF patient.

"They're having fun," said Dunlop, "and a pro surfer is teaching them this great sport that they probably wouldn't have even thought they could do. A lot of people with CF don't exercise because they don't have the lung capacity for it."

Pro surfer Mark Gabriel has been volunteering his time at about 40 Surf Experience Days in the past four years.

"It's always nice to see the kids excel and do something fun," said Gabriel.

Paulette Montelone looked out on the water and watched her son Michael surf on the same board with pro surfer and actor Kala Alexander.

Montelone explained that she has five children, and three of them are CFers. They drive from Yorba Linda and attend every MOF event that they can.

"This helps Michael [and his siblings] breath a lot easier," said Montelone. "It makes a huge difference for my kids. For us to take five kids to the beach was frightening. We would never have gone to the beach without Mauli Ola. But these guys are amazing. People drive the distance, even from Utah, because it's worth it to get out there with the pro surfers. We've been so happy, the surfers are so wonderful. They give their time and they are so good with the kids. They're so kind hearted and gentle and patient."

Montelone explained that her children have learned how to surf, and they're much more confident. Her youngest child had three sinus surgeries before surfing. Since taking up the sport, no one in the family has had a surgery.

"When we were diagnosed with CF, it was like this big huge dark cloud that came over. It was a heavy load. Every day you worry, every day they get treatments ... hospitalizations, doctor visits, medication ... and this is the silver lining."

Laguna Beach resident and professional surfer Hans Hagen organized the event with the Mauli Ola Foundation Surf Experience Day, but he was under the weather on Saturday and wasn't available for comment.

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