Surfing For Good Cause With Chip Miller Surf Fest

By MADDY VITALE The annual Chip Miller Surf Fest brought more than 200 surfers out with their families Friday morning to the 7th Street surfing beach in Ocean City to help raise awareness and funds for Amyloidosis research. Miller, who raised his family in Ocean City, was diagnosed in 2004 with Amyloidosis, a rare disease which occurs when an abnormal protein, called amyloid, builds up in one or more organs causing a malfunction. A few months later, he passed away. For 17 years, his son, Lance Miller, of Ocean City, has held the Surf Fest in memory of his father. Lance Miller, of Ocean City, at right, with friend, Gunner Roberts, of Upper Township, look out at the surfers. Each year, Lance’s goal is to raise money and also broaden the reach and educate people about Amyloidosis. The foundation continually adds events, contests and other features, he said, to make it a memorable experience for participants and their families. The goal of Friday’s surf event was to raise $30,000. Lance said he is appreciative of any funds going toward helping to raise awareness of the disease. “This is the most entries we have ever had. We had to shorten our heats to get everyone in. That is how big it is this year,” Lance said, noting that last year’s event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Surfers wait to be called for their heats. The balmy temperatures and churned up surf made for an ideal day for the Surf Fest, he said. “The waves are the best they have been in a long time,” he said. “There are some really talented people out here today. This is the best surfing we’ve seen all summer.” Gunner Roberts, Lance’s good friend and supporter of the event, said the day was absolutely amazing. “The surfing is awesome. This is a great event,” he said. And the fundraising and the fun were not stopping there. Surf Fest 2021. (Photo courtesy of Lance Miller) On Friday night, 500 people signed up to join in the night festivities at OC Water Park, which included a night of food and rides. “We rented the slide,” Lance said. “It’s going to be a great night.” For a list of winners visit https://liveheats.com/events/5514/spectate For more information about the organization, visit www.ChipMiller.org or via the CMAF Facebook page at (18) Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation - CMAF | Facebook Surfers look out at the ocean.