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Surfgimp Foundation’s Winter Bash draws large crowd

Fourth annual event raises money to help individuals with disabilities live full lives
The Surfgimp Foundation hosted its fourth annual Winter Beach Bash Jan. 14 at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach. Auctioneer Andrew O’Neal recognizes the hand of a bidder during the live auction portion. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTOS
Chris Flood
January 20, 2023

The Surfgimp Foundation’s fourth annual Winter Beach Bash returned to Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend this year, drawing a couple hundred people to support the organization. Due to the pandemic, the annual event was one of the last large group gatherings in 2020, was canceled in 2021 and was moved to March last year.

The foundation awarded eight grantees a total of $65,000 this year. Grants will be used to fund competition in surfing, archery, swimming, track, powerlifting, marathon racing, bass fishing, snowboarding; lessons in scuba diving, martial arts, archery; and wheelchairs for access to the beach. Money will also used for rugby matches, half-pipe skateboarding, dog agility classes, equipment for a mountain bike, a jogging stroller, a custom surfboard, a waveski and a kayak.

The foundation was established in 2017 in memory of Milton resident, quadriplegic and Surfgimp Jay Liesener. Its mission is to support, through financial grants, individuals with disabilities who require assistance to participate in desired physical activities. In its five years of existence, the foundation has granted close to $250,000 to 110 recipients.

For more information on Surfgimp Foundation or to make a donation, go to surfgimpfoundation.org.

 

The foundation was named after Surfgimp Jay Liesener, who died in late 2017. Attending the bash are (l-r) sister Jennifer Liesener, dad Jim Liesener, mom Edie Liesener and wife Melanie Liesener.
302 Bikes owner John Lehne has supported the foundation since the beginning. He donated one of his bikes for the auction.
The foundation’s mission is to provide people with physical disabilities the opportunity to do things they might not be able to otherwise. Posters are set up to tell people what their money was going toward, like this one for Ben, who got funds for an all-terrain wheelchair and kayak.
Artist Kim McFadden’s seahorse was one of the auction items.
Dressed in his usual Hawaiian shirt, Steve Huber welcomes a couple hundred of his closest friends to the party.
As usual, there were some big-ticket items up for auction, including this trip to Rwanda.
Just The Tip keeps attendees moving.

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Chris Flood has been working for the Cape Gazette since early 2014. He currently covers Rehoboth Beach and Henlopen Acres, but has also covered Dewey Beach and the state government. He covers environmental stories, business stories and random stories on subjects he finds interesting, and he also writes a column called Choppin’ Wood that runs every other week. He’s a graduate of the University of Maine and the Landing School of Boat Building & Design.

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