The Chip Miller Charitable Foundation (CMCF) will host the 11th annual Surf Fest on Saturday, July 19 at the Seventh Street Surfing Beach in Ocean City, N.J. Surf Fest is a community-wide surf contest to benefit the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation, an organization committed to raising awareness of amyloidosis, helping people afflicted with this disease, and supporting research facilities.
The forecast calls for small surf with light easterly winds that should warm up the ocean temperature, which measured 64 degrees on Friday morning.
The Surf Fest and Chip Miller Charitable Foundation were created in memory of Chip Miller in 2004. Just a few short months after Chip was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, the world lost an incredibly special person. Had Chip and his doctors been aware of the symptoms of the disease when they first presented, he might still be with us today. That is why his family and friends founded the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation to empower people with the knowledge and understanding of Amyloidosis for earlier detection, ensuring a better quality of life for those afflicted with the disease and to help science find the cures.
Chip Miller raised his family in Ocean City, and the community has supported the foundation from its inception. Ocean City is where Chip’s son Lance and best friend, Nick Bricker, grew up and learned to surf.
“Chip Miller was a second father figure for me growing up and helped me in so many ways throughout my childhood,” said Bricker, event organizer and CMCF board member. “Planning a surfing event to raise money and awareness for the deadly disease that took his life is how I chose to give back and honor his memory.”
Since its inception, this event has raised more than $100,000 for the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation and more importantly, raised awareness about a little known but deadly disease called Amyloidosis. Last summer, Bricker introduced a new event to benefit the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation, the Clubs and Cars Golf Classic. Due to its success, the second annual golf event will take place on Thursday, July 17 at Stone Harbor Country Club.
“Nick has a really big heart and has made a significant contribution to the foundation in my father’s name,” said Lance Miller, CMCF Board President. “Our family is so grateful for the outpouring of support from friends.
More than 150 surfers come from near and far to participate, and the event has attracted celebrities through the years, but what the event is really about is family bonds and memories.”
Registration for this year’s Surf Fest will be PRE REGISTRATION ONLY available online at www.chipmiller.org and mail-in registration forms will be available at local Surf Shops, as well as on the website. Check-in will begin at 7:00 AM on Saturday, July 19th on the 7th Street Beach. A ‘first come-first serve’ alternate list will be started when registration begins for interested participants to take the place of any registered ‘no shows.’ The registration fee is $35 for the first division entered, and $10 for each additional division.
A Surf Fest After Party will be held at 5:30 p.m at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point, NJ. The After Party will include dinner, drink specials, live entertainment, surf movies, a silent auction and raffle. Entry is $35. A Surf Fest & After Party combo ticket is also available for $65.
For more information about the Surf Fest and After Party or Clubs and Cars Golf Classic, visit www.chipmiller.org or contact Nick Bricker at themush@comcast.net or 609-231-1562.
— News release from the Chip Miller Charitable Foundation
