Thursday, January 12, 2012

Alex von Furstenberg: Enriching the lives of people suffering from autism

Alex von Furstenberg certainly knows how to enjoy life. In his free time, he partakes in exciting outdoor activities like the extreme sport kite-surfing. He loves the said activity because he believes that the ocean can effectively act as a site of respite and empowerment—something that he learned when he interacted with the organization Surfer’s Healing and the autistic children that it helps.



Alex Von Furstenberg Photo Credit: Vivint.com



Surfer’s Healing is a non-profit institution based in California that was founded with the main objective of enriching the lives of those suffering from autism by exposing them to the thrilling experience of surfing. The organization, which is fueled by donations and run by volunteers, hosts different surfing camps and trainings nationwide.



Alex Von Furstenberg Photo Credit: Autisable.com



Alex von Furstenberg was inspired by how the institution started. Surfer’s Healing was initiated in 2000 by a couple whose son was diagnosed with autism. For some reason, when their son was exposed to the sport—despite suffering occasionally from sensory overload—he felt entirely calm. Because of this, the couple decided to host day camps at the beach where autistic children can experience the calmness that their son had felt.



Alex Von Furstenberg Photo Credit: Hamptonroads.com



Strongly believing in the cause that’s being endorsed by the institution’s founders, Alex von Furstenberg pledged an amount of $10,000 for the further development of surfing camps. With the amount that he offered, Surfer’s Healing had been adequately supplied with wetsuits, surfboards, rash guards, life vests, and other required equipment to continue its charitable functions.




More information about Alex von Furstenberg is available at www.alexvonfurstenberg.org.