Bethany Hamilton — the young world-class surfer who lost her arm in a 2003 shark attack and inspired the world with her return to the sport — will be the featured speaker at an Oct. 23 fundraiser for the Ocean City Tabernacle’s Son Club.
The Son Club has filled a vital need in Ocean City by providing a free program that provides after-school tutoring, snacks, Bible lessons, games, enrichment and life skills for more than 200 Ocean City students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Hamilton’s story of faith and resilience will provide a fitting message for the evening.
“I’ll share my life story and encourage people to overcome their struggles,” Hamilton said in a telephone interview on Friday. “My story has been able to touch people’s lives all over the world.”
The public is invited to hear Hamilton at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Flanders Hotel (at 11th Street and Boardwalk). All proceeds from this event benefit the Son Club.
Hamilton, now 25, said on Friday that she never really felt sorry for herself in the aftermath of the shark attack when she was just 13.
“My parents really raised me to look for things to be thankful for,” she said. “My faith was really huge in letting me know that God was going to take care of me.”
Now a mother of a young son, Tobias, Hamilton has a new perspective on the importance of mentoring youth like the participants in the Tabernacle’s Son Club.
“They need to find something they’re passionate about and center their life around that,” Hamilton said.
For her, it was surfing and her faith, she said.
Hamilton’s father, Tom, grew up in Ocean City, and she said she’s “super excited” to be returning to a place that she knows and loves.
Event attendees will hear her story, enjoy dinner, live music and a silent auction that includes items signed by Hamilton. Special VIP tickets allow guests to meet Bethany and have their photo taken with her.
Tickets to a special evening with Soul Surfer Bethany Hamilton are $150 per person. VIP sponsorship packages including meet-and-greet passes are also available. To purchase tickets, call 609-399-1915, visit octabernacle.org or email contact@octabernacle.org.
