Surfers Mark 23rd Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial

AVALON – The 23rd annual Brendan Borek High Tides Surf Memorial circle of friends formed off the 30th Street beach Aug. 3. Then the surfers tossed floral petals into the sea and united in holding hands, the culmination of a series of events that raised money for Cape May County pediatric cancer patients.
Lydia Borek, mother of the event’s namesake, accepted a $1,000 donation from Dave Perry, representing the 24th District of Free and Accepted Masons. Members of three of the county’s four lodges accompanied him, Anthony Baltuskonis, worshipful master, Cape Island Lodge, Shelton Marsden, Cape Island Lodge, Frank McCall, worshipful master, Ocean City Lodge, and Wayne Motte, worshipful master, Star Lodge. Royce Robinson, worship master, Cannon Lodge was absent from the ceremony.
Borek accepted the donation on behalf of the fund that has touched many county children and their families who have been touched with cancer.
This year’s honored guest at the event was 5-year-old Kanen “HurriKanen” Keating-Wear, of Swainton, with his father, Michael Wear, mother Lauren Keating-Wear and sister Kinley Keating-Wear, 2.
Kanen has Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that primarily affects children and adolescents.
Wear and David Borek, Brendan’s brother, are long-time friends, a local resident, he had moved to Hawaii, but returned home.
Through a chain of friends that extends to the islands, Donald Tai Loy “Don” Ho a Hawaiian and traditional pop musician, singer and entertainer, was notified of the event here and Kanen. Ho was responsible for securing a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing 30th anniversary autographed poster, signed by the world’s top surfers, including Kelly Slater. The Vans surfing event took place in December 2012 on Oahu’s North Shore. It is where the world’s best surfers test their abilities against nature’s biggest waves.
Mike Meyer presented the poster to the boy and his father, after telling how it arrived on the Avalon beach.
The annual event’s most solemn time then came as names of late cancer patients, assisted by the High Tides Memorial Fund was read.
Lydia Borek then read part of the July 31 Herald’s “Compass Points” as a tribute to her late son.
After that, Brendan’s circle of surfing friends, young and old, received their floral petals and headed toward the ocean. In a short time, the circle was formed, petals tossed onto the sea surface, and hands held high to remember Brendan and others who battled cancer. Hands dropped, they all splashed the water and caught waves back to shore.