Mauli Ola's Pro-Surfers Visit Sutter Mem...

Mauli Ola’s Pro-Surfers Visit Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento

Along their Northern California route, headed towards a Surf Experience Day event in Santa Cruz, California, Mauli Ola Foundation staff and pro-surfers volunteered their time at Sutter Memorial Children’s Hospital in Sacramento. Local NBC affiliate, KCRA Channel 3, was there to cover the touching event.

“On the way to Santa Cruz there are many children’s hospitals. Since we had such success last year putting smiles on kids’ faces, we decided to visit as many hospitals as we could on our Nor- Cal tour,” explains MOF Surf Experience Director Bobby Serna.

“It’s important to note,” Serna says, “that our hospital visits are not just for CF patients. We spend time with pediatric cancer patients in the oncology units, as well as with children who are in the ICU.”  Serna went on to explain that for the most part, the goal is to keep Cystic Fibrosis patients out of hospitals through vigilant medical care, natural treatments like surfing, and with out-patient clinic treatments, as they are needed.

A host of celebrated professional surfers and athletes turned out to show support at Sutter Memorial Hospital, including: Kala Alexander, Nissen Osterneck, Shawn “Barney” Barron, Kalani Robb and Hans Hagen. Kids received fun cartoon T-shirts designed by ASP Worldtour champion and MOF Community Outreach Director, Kalani Robb. Flexfit MOF signature coloring hats were given out to kids to draw on, allowing for some much needed artistic expression. “Everybody loved the art hat that Kalani designed with Flexfit!” exclaimed Serna.  “Sometimes the kids ask the surfers about the waves, but sometimes they just like to hang out, draw on their hats and get their t-shirts,” Serna continued.

The Mauli Ola staff and their celebrity volunteers typically visit with anywhere from 60 to 75 pediatric patients per hospital visit, which Serna describes as  starting with introductions in the pediatric wing’s designated playroom where kids and families get autographed posters and hats. Some patients are then able to stay in the playroom, while others prefer to return to their rooms. That is when MOF staff and pro-athletes split into groups and give bedside visits to all of the patients.

The entire MOF crew awoke at 4 AM to make it over to Sutter Memorial Hospital for their scheduled 10 AM visit, and for all involved the early morning wakeup call was well worth it. Pro-surfer Hans Hagen, donning Shawn “Barney” Barron’s black signature Flexfit MOF hat, spoke to KCRA NBC Channel 3 News during the Sutter’s visit. “It’s a way to hopefully brighten somebody’s day up, and it’s an honor for us to come here and have open arms and open hearts, and let us in to just tell [the kids] to keep fighting.”

Visit Sutter Memorial Hospital online - http://www.suttermedicalcenter.org/