Surfers in contest to help Sam

Joel Ford and Chris “Chippa” Wilson ready to compete in a fundraising surf competition at Cabarita Beach tomorrow. Photo: Crystal Spencer

THE Tamarind Turkeys will be sentimental favour- ites heading into tomorrow’s surf competition in benefit of Cabarita Beach bashing victim Sam Ford.

Comprising Sam’s two brothers Joel and Ryland, long-time friends Chris “Chippa” Wilson and Nathan Wilson, plus Chad Harvey, they are among the hardest hit by Sam’s continued fight to overcome the serious head injuries he sustained in Coolangatta more than five months ago.

Joel said yesterday he had been blown away by the support the community had shown.

“The level of support has been so amazing for me and my whole family,” he said.

The invitational tag team event has drawn 24 teams, stretching from Kirra to Newcastle and a total of 120 surfers, and they could be in for some big waves with Cyclone Ului bearing down on the coast.

Joel Parkinson, Luke Egan and Josh Kerr have all donated signed boards to be drawn in a mega-raffle to be held at the comp, and entry fees are also going towards Sam’s recovery.

“It will go towards the rehabilitation to help Sam get back into health over the next however-many years it will take, because we don’t really know how long it will be,” Joel said.

Sam is expected to be in hospital for two years, and both Joel and Chippa said they expected him to one day be back into the surf.

“We are hoping and praying he will make a full recovery,” Joel said.

A call will be made at Norries Head at 8am DST tomorrow morning as to where the surfing will take place.