Bethany Hamilton

 What is a Hero?

  Everyone has heard about heroes.  They're the people with the special powers who go around rescuing others in Superman outfits right? In fantasy, that may be the case.  But in the everyday world, heroes are regular people who want to help others in their community or life.  They can also be famous people who are well-known for their organizations and/or charity.  In general, heroes are people who transform compassion into something heroic.  They go to extreme lengths to help others in need, putting others first before themselves.  Heroes are the people that you see going down the road less traveled to help others in need.

Heart of a Hero:

Bethany Hamilton Surfing After the Attack

Back on the Board:

  Bethany's strong faith in God helped her throughout her recovery and adjustment to living as an amputee. "Life is a lot like surfing . . . when you get caught in the impact zone, you need to get right back up because you never know what may be over the next wave. . . if you have faith, anything is possible, anything at all."  Just three weeks after the attack, Bethany was back doing surfing.  After collaborating with her father on how to make adjustments to her board that would help her cope with this new obstacle, Bethany plunged back in to the world of pro surfing. She believes that "People can do whatever they want if they just set their mind to it."  In 2004, she placed fifth in the Open Women's division of a surf competition.  In 2005, Bethany won first place in Explorer Women's division of that year's NSSA National Championships.  She has won many ASP/World Tour events.  The list goes on and on.  But this is just a small portion of Bethany's amazing recovery and heroism. 

Bethany Hamilton with tsunami victims

Soul Surfer to the Needy:

  In 2004, only one year after the attack, Bethany partnered up with World Vision to help children in need.  Her first trip with them was to Thailand, where she helped children after a tsunami disaster.  Bethany wanted to help children in the tsunami-struck areas of Thailand.  She said to them: "I can't even imagine what you went through.  I can only speak from my own experience."  She spent a week assisting survivors in three villages. This consisted of batik-painting, volleyball games with the kids, and talking with the fishermen.  To help the tsunami survivors overcome their fear of the ocean, Bethany led more than 50 children from their village of Lam Tukkae out to Patong Beach for an afternoon of surfing.

Bethany Hamilton's organization

  During her many  visits to survivors of natural disasters, poverty-struck families, and children with disabilities, Bethany has met a lot of inspiring people, both old and young.  In turn, she has inspired many of them.  Bethany says this about her visits "I see that God is able to  use my story to help others.  Once a girl came up to me and told me that she had cancer.  When she learned my story it made her realize that  she didn't need to give up."  Bethany also has learned a lot from the reactions of the people that she has met "I met so many people who had lost so much but still retained hope for the future.  It's a true inspiration to see people beginning the long road to recovery after such a devastating event."

Faith: