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desatnick_foundation

@desatnick_foundation

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501(c)3 Charity aimed to offer emotional & financial support to those living with paralysis & spinal cord injury (SCI)

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This fall marks 25 years since the day that changed my life. It feels like the right time to finally sit down and tell the whole story.

On September 30, 2001, Hurricane Humberto was sending swell to Cape May. I was 24, surfing at Poverty Beach. On my fourth wave, I was thrown head-first into shallow water and shattered my C6 and C7 vertebrae. After an 11½-hour surgery, doctors told me I might never walk again, and that I would never surf again.

A lot has happened since then:

• Worked with Cape May City Council to create a beach safety program for local students and put shore break warning signs at every beach entrance

• Brought Life Rolls On’s They Will Surf Again to New Jersey. It grew from 12 adaptive surfers to around 100, with 500+ volunteers every summer @liferollsonfoundation

• Helped organize the first Cape May Golf Tournament, which raised over $250,000 for Life Rolls On

• Founded the DeSatnick Foundation in 2013 to support people living with paralysis in South and Central Jersey @desatnick_foundation

• 12 years of the Around the Cape Paddle, our biggest annual fundraiser

• Grants for power wheelchairs, home lifts, vehicle modifications and therapy, plus beach wheelchairs for 10 shore towns from Cape May to Ocean Grove

• Named Life Rolls On Volunteer of the Year in 2015

None of this would have been possible without my wife, Martina. She’s my saving grace.
I’ve told parts of this story over the years.

This time, I’m telling all of it. The interview is coming soon.

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Celebrating a life truly well lived. 🤍

On October 21, we’ll come together to honor James “Jim” Sharpley, our dear friend, skills teacher, and lover of Mother Nature.

We are grateful for the time, knowledge, and love of the outdoors he shared with our Shine Foundation community. We’ll carry his memory with us as we continue learning, exploring, and connecting with nature.

Forever a part of our Shine family. 🤍

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According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, the average inpatient rehabilitation stay after spinal cord injury in the United States has decreased from 110 days in the 1970s to 37 days since 2015.

Thirty-seven days to learn how to do everything again- in a different way.

It’s not enough to navigate independence, relationships, school, work, and all the other challenges that come with being a teenager.

That’s why we serve teens and young adults from across the country.

Because they need more.

And we’ll keep shouting it from the rooftops.

#spinalcordinjury #spinalcordinjuryawareness #scirecovery

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Back on a board🏄🏻‍♂️ just about two years ago I broke my neck and life changed in an instant. If somebody told me that I would surf again I would have never believed them. This may have been the best day of my life, and it would not have been possible without the support of friends, family, volunteers, and the incredible people who organize events like this. Life is about what you can do, not what you cannot do.🤙🏼

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We are incredibly proud to share this photo of @mattfumo @jasonkai_ @makki_films @samvincible — four amazing individuals who have each received grants through @desatnick_foundation .

These grants help make life-changing opportunities, equipment, and continued paralysis recovery possible. We are so grateful to the @desatnick_foundation for investing in our clients and believing in what’s possible.

Thank you for helping our clients keep moving forward.

#DesatnickFoundation #projectwalknewjersey #paralysisrecovery #spinalcordinjury #recoveryispossible

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Another great weekend supporting causes that matter to us.

We're proud sponsors of Life Rolls On, a nonprofit founded by 4x world champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer, dedicated to helping people with disabilities experience the freedom of adaptive surf, skate, and fishing events through safe, high-quality adaptive sports programming.

We're also proud to support the Dutch Hoffman Championships year after year.

Grateful to be part of communities that push boundaries, build resilience, and show up for each other. 🌊

@liferollsonfoundation

@sjlracing

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First podium.
Tri AC 2026
Honored to represent @desatnick_foundation on the course.
@delmoeliteevents

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Hundreds of hands, one wave at a time 🤙

On Sunday, Baker Avenue Beach in Wildwood became something bigger than a beach: over 100 athletes and more than 700 volunteers came together for They Will Surf Again — and every ride ended in cheers you could hear down the boardwalk. First-time surfers, veterans of the program, a standing ride, one very good dog, and more joy per square foot of sand than I’ve ever photographed.

Thank you @liferollsonfoundation @jessebillauer @desatnick_foundation the huge crew from @mossmageerehab and every volunteer who stood in the whitewater all day making these rides happen. And to the athletes: you’re the whole story. 💙

🎥 Video: @kadimariephoto
🎵 “Life Rolls On” — @slightlystoopid

#LifeRollsOn #TheyWillSurfAgain #AdaptiveSurfing #WildwoodNJ #JerseyShore

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Unreal event yesterday, thank you to everyone who helped get me back in the water. Couldn’t have asked for anything better @liferollsonfoundation

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Life Rolls On this morning on Baker Ave was a huge success! Over 100 surfers with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities entered the water today with the help of volunteers. Thank you to Life Rolls On, the Desatnick Foundation, Jefferson Health, and all the volunteers and participants who made today great! ❤️🏄‍♀️🏄‍♂️

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Things that matter….
#liferollson #desatnickrealestate

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July 31 , National Lifeguard Appreciation Day! I absolutely have a great appreciation for Lifeguards, @sglifeguards Sea Girt Beach Patrol Lifeguards/ EMT gave me second chance of life !! My family and I are forever grateful!! Our First Responders ! Life Savings is what they do ! @harmon712 @mtharmon3 @bri.perricone @ed_oser @emmahecht6 @jimmy_freda_shorecatch Ed Krausser

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