Video Surfing Fundraiser – SURF DOG CONTEST WINNER CARVED NEW WAVES AS SHE TANDEM SURFED WITH 15 YEAR OLD QUADRAPLEGIC ADAPTIVE SURFER WHILE FUNDRAISING FOR HIS REHABILITATION<\/p>\n
SAN DIEGO, CA, August 24, 2009\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009dRip Curl Ricki,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a local golden retriever surf contest winner, took to the waves last Thursday, August 20, to learn a new skill: surfing tandem with Patrick Ivison, a 15-year-old spinal cord injured adaptive surfer.\u00c2\u00a0 Mission accomplished!\u00c2\u00a0 Ricochet (as she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s known on land), and Patrick rode their first wave all the way to the beach!\u00c2\u00a0 They were so stoked they continued riding wave after wave, as if they had been surfing together forever.\u00c2\u00a0 In addition to accomplishing a score of tandem surf rides with a person with limited physical abilities (rarely, if ever done), Ricochet also shared some party waves with Patrick.<\/span><\/p>\n Ricochet has surfed tandem with other dogs, but this newest project presented a unique and exciting challenge: training to surf tandem with Patrick, who suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of an accident when he was a child.\u00c2\u00a0 Patrick was diagnosed quadriplegic, but he is able to surf using an adaptive surfboard.<\/span>Surf dog & adaptive surfer do tandem on channel 8 news<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Although Patrick has excelled through the years in both school and adaptive sports (adaptive surfing is his specialty), he recently decided that having a service dog would help him achieve greater independence as he approaches his college years. Paws\u00e2\u20ac\u2122itive Teams, a local non-profit organization that places service dogs with persons with disabilities, caught wind of Patrick\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s story and matched him with a golden retriever named Kona.<\/p>\n Patrick also participates in an intense physical therapy program funded through Help Patrick Walk, which helps him build strength by exercising parts of his body he can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t move or control on his own.\u00c2\u00a0 Since starting his therapy, Patrick has been able to do things he never thought he could.<\/p>\n The costs of training a service dog, and specialized physical therapy are steep, however \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s where Ricochet\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s knack for surfing and fundraising comes in.<\/p>\n Ricochet has always been part of surfing fundraisers for great causes, and will be competing in the Surf City Surf Dog contest in Huntington Beach on October 11 where Patrick is an official beneficiary.\u00c2\u00a0 All proceeds donated to Ricochet through her fundraising efforts will go directly to Paws\u00e2\u20ac\u2122itive Teams, and Help Patrick Walk, for the sole purpose of easing the financial burden on Patrick and his family.<\/p>\n You can catch Ricochet and Patrick carving waves in San Diego for the next several weeks to prepare for the Surf City Surf Dog event where they will be demonstrating their new tandem surfing skills!<\/p>\n More information can be found at www.ripcurlricki.com, www.pawsteams.org, and www.helppatrickwalk.org.\u00c2\u00a0 Please also contact Judy Fridono (707) 228-0679<\/span>\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Surf dog & adaptive surfer do tandem on channel 8 news<\/span> – To donate: http:\/\/www.ripcurlricki.com. A touching story by channel 8. Ricochet’s a dog surfer, and Patrick’s an adaptive surfer with a spinal cord injury. They got together to share some party … <\/span><\/p>\n