No matter how often fun, fun, fun as a group is celebrated in Beach Boys surfing songs, the sport is a lonely one. Surfing is a solitary journey as the surfer tries to catch a wave to sit on top of the world. This secluded ride on a board at the ocean’s roar has embraced Dan Fischer for many years.

The loneliness for Dan was altered a few years ago. He now casts his eyes over thousands of names etched on his surfboard as he rides the waves along the beaches of Rhode Island. His boards are covered with the names of people who have died, mostly from cancer, and who shared his love of the ocean.

Dan created the One Last Wave Project this past January. He captures the healing power of the ocean to help people celebrate the lives of parents, siblings, partners, children and friends. He was in the same boat, or on the same board, during 2019. Coping with the loss of his father, Dan etched Karl’s name on his board. They had shared a love of the ocean and of adventure—mountain climbing, paragliding, hockey and cycling. Soon after, Dan’s dog died and he etched Rudy’s name on the board.

As Dan remembered his father and dog, he recorded a video from a beach near Newport and shared it on social media. He offered to etch names onto his boards to honor people who have passed away and to celebrate their lives. He takes the boards into the water to catch the waves while, in a spiritual way, memorializing each person who enjoyed the ocean.

Dan’s first two boards contain 3,500 names. The third board that he took to the water over the Memorial Day weekend contained the recently added name of Kinley Sexton. She, too, loved the ocean, according to her mother, but the love affair was short. Kinley died from an aggressive brain tumor at age six just a few years ago.

Dan regularly receives names to add to his boards through email and social media (learn more and contact Dan on the project website. He plans to continue to add names to surfboards for as long as this tribute resonates and helps the people who have remained behind to mourn their losses.

Sports leagues at all levels increasingly have become aware of the many serious life issues associated with concussions. The youngest athletes are monitored closely, as are older players, including professionals. In most leagues, when observers determine that a player may have been compromised by a head injury, the athlete is removed quickly from competition as part of concussion protocol initiatives.

Following numerous concussions over a number of years, Meredith Greenberg likely has played her last competitive lacrosse game. Meredith is only 19 but she already has suffered seven concussions along with a case of Post-Concussion Syndrome when symptoms persisted beyond the typical recovery period. The Westchester County (Bronxville) native personally understands the health setbacks caused by head injuries, and she already has moved forward with her post-athletics mission to support other players who have suffered or may suffer from concussions.

Meredith feels that many young athletes and their parents might not possess all the important information about the dangers associated with head injuries, potentially jeopardizing critical decisions about proper medical treatment and future playing options. She is committed to helping these athletes enjoy the positive on-field opportunities she experienced while ensuring that parents are informed about the latest medical information and resources that address contact sports health issues.

Athlete Concussion Foundation (AFC) is Meredith’s advocacy organization that educates students and parents about the importance of reporting head injuries to coaches and reducing the risk of permanent brain damage. AFC is focused on prevention through education and the inclusion of mental health resources.

A few months ago, Meredith’s initiatives were discussed during a filmed program about a treatment that might be adapted for concussions. Stellate Ganglion Block is an injection of medication into nerves to help relieve pain in the head, neck, upper arm and upper chest, and to increase circulation and blood supply to the arm. After seeing the interview, a neuroscientist who is a personal friend of former Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre, introduced Brett to Meredith. The doctor and the football player are raising money to develop a drug that, through a nasal spray, quickly might treat concussions. The three-way conversation also embraced Meredith’s long-term goal to develop an affordable EEG device that is easy to use and can quickly detect concussions in an ambulance and on the sports field.

It is very unfortunate that Meredith’s competitive sports career has been compromised at such a young age. She is, however, one of the young pioneers, a sports champion, who is seeking solutions to help protect the health of current and future athletes of all ages.