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Waves of Empowerment
September 12, 2019 @ 7:00 am PDT
Catch a Wave of Inspiration: Quadriplegic Surf Champion Jesse Billauer Shares His Story at Santa Barbara Event
SANTA BARBARA –Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation presents “Waves of Empowerment,” an evening with world champion quadriplegic surfer and inspirational speaker Jesse Billauer, on September 12, 2019 at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Learn how Jesse’s dream to surf again drove him to not just live life but to live it big.
On March 25, 1996, Billauer was only 17 years old and already a promising pro surfer. While out surfing that day, he hit his head on a shallow sandbar, severed his spinal cord at the C6 level and instantly became a quadriplegic.
Doctors told him he would never surf again. However, he quickly found a way to adapt to his new condition. He realized he needed to give other people with paralysis the same freedom and pure happiness of catching a wave. Billauer has continued to surf and now spreads the message of hope to help surfers, skaters, and other sports enthusiasts overcome their disabilities.
“Your power is in your perspective, not your circumstance. No matter what you’re facing, it is no match for your infinite potential,” Billauer said.
In 2005 Billauer was the first quadriplegic surfer to surf the dangerous waves of Cloudbreak in Fiji. In 2015 he became the world champion of adaptive surfing. He surfs utilizing a power-assisted surfboard created by Wavejet.
Billauer founded Life Rolls On, a charity that aims to improve the quality of life for people affected by spinal cord injury and other disabilities. The inaugural “Jesse’s Story on Tour” speaking events began in April 2006 and Billauer has traversed the country to deliver his message to over 100,000 people.
Don’t miss “Waves of Empowerment” with Jesse Billauer at the Lobero Theatre on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 7 pm. Tickets are $25 general admission, $15 students, and $125 VIP ticket includes reception at 5:30 pm. Purchase tickets online at http://www.cottagehealth.org/crhevent.
About Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital – https://www.cottagehealth.org
Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) is dedicated to providing excellent care for survivors of stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, orthopedic injury and other conditions. CRH is a program of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Cottage Health that includes Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital. Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation (CRHF) is a separate philanthropic foundation, directed by an independent board of directors, and devotes its energies solely toward charitable giving which supports CRH. The CRHF Empowerment Through Medical Rehabilitation event is an annual educational program which strives to provide important information to the community about current topics and research and to advance the understanding and support of medical rehabilitation.