I’ve never been surfing before, but I’ve always imagined that it’s a very liberating feeling. Swooping along with the water must feel a lot like flying!
Like so many high-adrenaline activities, surfing is the kind of discipline that typically requires a lot of coordination and balance. That’s part of the reason that sisters Bellamy and Savannah Arterburn, 19 and 17, never thought that they would have a chance to experience this particular thrill.
The two girls, who live in Denver, Colorado, suffer from a degenerative illness called Friedreich’s Ataxia. Tragically, for the Arterburn sisters, this has led to a drastically shortened life expectancy.
Their father, Donovan Arterburn, has dedicated his life to helping his terminally ill daughters fulfill their dreams in the time they have left.
So, when he heard about an old high school friend working with Ricochet, a famous surfing therapy dog, in San Diego, he decided to reach out. Bellamy’s doctor has recently given her just one year to live, and he intends to pack this year with a lifetime of experiences.
With help from Ricochet’s many fans on social media, the trip quickly became a reality. The girls and their father flew out to San Diego to catch their very first waves.
Thanks to a GoPro camera attached to the longboard, there is some incredible footage of both girls experiencing the bliss of riding the waves.
But the bucket list is far from complete for these intrepid sisters. Savannah hopes to go to college for sound design. Bellamy’s next goal? Skydiving in Costa Rica.
If your heart melted when you saw Ricochet helping to make this adventure possible, please SHARE on Facebook and help to raise awareness!
