'Inlet 2 Inlet' Beach Cleanup Honors 2 Young Lives Touched By Tragedy

WESTHAMPTON BEACH — They were two young people who had their whole lives ahead when tragedy struck. But rather than let grief and despair overcome, those that love them are working together to help others in their memories — and create a legacy of giving back in their honor.

It has been nine years since Westhampton Beach High School athlete and graduate Cory Hubbard, just 22, died after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while away at college — and four years since Dana Barrett of East Quogue was paralyzed following a pool accident.

In the years since, an event has been organized meant to honor Cory and help Dana, who lives at New Beginnings, a community center for traumatic brain injury, and needs financial assistance.

Both the Dana Barrett Strong and Live Your Cor foundation, along with Relic — a T-shirt company that donates to many local causes — are gearing up to present the 4th Annual "Inlet 2 Inlet Charity Beach Cleanup."

The event takes place on Sunday, September 24. Vendor setup and beach assignments take place at 10 a.m. on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach, with trash weigh in at 3 p.m. The beach cleanup competition takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. along the 15 miles of coastal beaches stretching from Cupsogue County Park to the Shinnecock Inlet.

Teams compete by collecting sponsorship donations from friends and family to help raise funds.

"Purchase tickets to join or form a team to compete for prizes for the most money raised and the most garbage collected at the beach," organizers said.

A fall fair also takes place from noon to 6:30 p.m. on the Great Lawn in Westhampton Beach. The fair features live music, local food and beverage trucks, local vendors and children's games and activities.

Ralph and Holly Hubbard, Cory's parents, have created the "Live Your Cor" foundation, raising funds to help community members in need.

"To Live Your Cor translates to Live Your Heart," the Hubbards said. "It means to treat everyone you meet with love and respect. It also means to get the most out of every day of your life. Simply stated, it means 'Celebrate life!'"

All donations to Live Your Cor are dedicated to helping individuals in the community facing adversity and hardship.

The Hubbards, who created the Live Your Cor Foundation to honor their son, added that he loved nothing more than to "pay it forward" with love and caring. "This is the way that Cory lived his life and would want everyone else to live theirs as well," they said.

Donations help the foundation to share their son's love for giving back and helping others, providing financial assistance to those in their darkest hours who have suffered adversity or personal hardship.

"Through your generosity, we have been able to help families facing personal loss, disease, accidents and other challenges," they said.

The Hubbards added: "It's nice to be able to help so many people in Cory's honor and in his memory. You really don't want your children to be forgotten. This is our way of keeping his memory alive."

The "Dana Barrett Strong" foundation also helps Barrett as she perseveres, despite the unthinkable, with an indomitable spirit and grace.

Barrett, born and raised in East Quogue, suffered a severe spinal injury on June 30, 2019 in a tragic pool accident. After being airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, it was determined that she had a C2 fracture, resulting in paralysis from the neck down and the inability to breathe on her own.

"She needs extensive ongoing rehabilitation, which is a considerable financial burden," event organizers said. "The road to recovery will take years."

Organizers added: "In Dana's young life she has overcome significant hardships and loss." Her challenges began with the tragic death of her father when she was 16, and then, the passing of her mother when Dana was just 21.

"Despite this, she has always been fearless in life, radiating positivity and kindness," event organizers said.

Those participating in the beach cleanup can sign up online, set up fundraising goals, and share team links for sponsorships.

For information on how to sign up, buy tickets, and donate, click here.

Holly Hubbard said she's deeply touched by the outpouring from the community, which has helped to grow the event in the years since it was organized.

"Every year, it gets bigger and bigger," she said. "It's just unbelievable."

Barrett herself has become very involved with the event, joining planning meetings by Zoom and helping with raffles, Hubbard said. "She's excited," Hubbard said.

The heart of the event has always been the community, which steps up without fail to remember Cory and to help Dana in her time of need. "This community is amazing," Hubbard said.

The Hubbards' son Kyle is also involved in the planning. Hubbard also thanked Jack Clark, who has helped to take the event to new levels.

Both Cory and Dana grew up with a love of the beach, the water, of sports and sunshine and summer. It's fitting, all agree, that the event takes place on the beach where both spent so many happy hours as they were growing up, making memories.

Her son, Hubbard said, would love to know that so much good is being done in his memory. "One woman we helped sent me a letter that said, 'You changed my life,'" Hubbard has said in a past interview. "That was really great."