PHOTO GALLERY: Surf's Up ... And So Are Their Spirits

Last year, Allie Burton wanted nothing to do with the ocean, her mother says.

On Tuesday, at the Parents of Autistic Childen Surf Day event in Brick Township, she wouldn’t stay away.

“She’s signing ’more,’ ” Sherry Burton said, as Allie finished riding a surfboard onto the beach, with the assistance of her behavioral therapist, Shannon Scott, and lifeguards from the Brick Township Recreation Department.

Allie’s smile spoke volumes.

The Surf Day -- sponsored by the recreation department and held with the assistance of dozens of volunteers -- filled Brick Beach III with smiles and laughter on a beautiful summer afternoon. The lifeguards donated their time to assist the children, who been diagnosed with varying degrees of autism, in safely enjoying the water.

Jake Henderson, who’s almost 9, slapped high-fives with the lifeguards who were helping him ride the waves, first on his belly, then on his knees, and finally standing.

“He’s done this before,” his mother said, noting he had participated in a program called Surfers for Healing.

The POAC event also received assistance from Coastline Adventure surfing school, which provided surfboards and personal flotation devices for the kids to use, and members of the Brick Township High School football team volunteered, helping children in and out of the water. Twin County Soccer Association of Brick donated T-shirts for all of the kids, while Awards Trophy of Brick donated medals for the children who went into the water.

Jack Costantino, 6, of Howell, was another child whose grin stretched the width of his face, as he rode, belly down, behind a jetski on a small raft, held securely by one of the lifeguards.

“He’s loving this,” said his mother, Michelle. Jack participated in the Brick event last year, she said, and also has participated in Waves of Impact, a surfing event for children with special needs that is held in August.

There are more photos from the event posted on the POAC Facebook page.

(Photos here by Karen Wall)