Surf’s Up at Methodist Children’s Hospital as Mauli Ola Pro Surfers Visit Patients

August 17, 2011

Surfers from the Mauli Ola Foundation will visit Methodist Children’s Hospital, a campus of Methodist Hospital, on Wednesday, August 17 to visit with patients, sign autographs and help the patients make hats. Based in Laguna Beach, California, the foundation works to introduce surfing as a natural treatment for people with genetic disorders.

Mauli Ola, which means “breath of life” in Hawaiian, enlists pro surfers to promote education and awareness of genetic diseases and increase research for genetic disorders. Since 2007 the foundation has concentrated on surfing as a natural treatment option for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Mauli Ola surfers have taught hundreds of CF patients to surf through free events with hospitals and also have visited hundreds of hospital patients around the United States. This year they are expanding their program to help patients affected with cancer and Alpha 1 Antitupism, a genetic condition that may result in serious lung and liver disease.

Children and staff alike were excited to see the surfers and get autographed photos. These special visits are coordinated through the hospital’s child life department, giving children fun memories of their hospital stay despite their medical conditions.