Stony Brook Football Players Empower Paralyzed Patients To Ride The Waves

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Imagine being paralyzed, but having a chance to body surf the ocean waves?

A therapy program on Long Island is making it easy for paralyzed patients to do just that.

As CBS2's Emily Smith reported, each person on a board in the ocean at Lido beach on Thursday, was paralyzed and couldn't walk.

They were being assisted by 80 volunteers from Stony Brook University's football team and medical team who partnered with a non-profit organization called Empower.

It's all part of a two-week annual program.

Bridget Nieves said her 29-year-old brother Casey Ellin became quadriplegic 3 years ago following a diving incident at Jones Beach. She said Empower has changed their lives.

"The first year of his accident he really stayed in the house, didn't really leave the house, now here he is surfing. It is incredible," she said.

Ellin said this was his first time taking part in the program and thanked volunteers for doing all of the work while he rode the waves.

"It's fabulous to be able to do something like this out of the chair. It's something I could never do on my own," he said.

Officials said more than 12,000 new spinal cord injuries occur every year.

Experts said activities like this provide meaning and vitality -- empowering those who can't walk.

"Some are able to use their arms. Some have limited use. Some need a lot of assistance for daily activities," Carrie Callahan explained.

Volunteers called the surfers courageous, especially the ones who got injured in the water.

"I was injured at Jones Beach in 2013. I dove into the water and I hit a sand bar, or maybe a shallow spot," Casey said.

"Means a lot to me absolutely -- getting back on the beach I almost feel normal again like I am able bodied," Michael LaRose added.

Taking the courage to leave a wheelchair behind, ride the waves, and feel the wind.

Information from the participants' experiences may also be part of some upcoming research projects on improving quality of life of those with spinal cord injuries.