UPDATE: Surfers Pay Tribute to Brendan Borek, Contest Results Released

AVALON — To mark two decades of surfing that remembered Brendan Borek, the Circle of Friends in the ocean off 30th Street seemed larger than ever on Sat., Aug. 21. That event was the highlight of the week-long event to benefit the Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund, Inc.
Thousands watched from the beach.
His family and friends to remember the boy who loved life, surfing, art and just being a kid, whose life was taken by Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, established that fund in 1992.
Lydia Borek, Brendan’s mother, spoke to the gathered surfers of all ages, and distributed to roses to her late son’s close friends and other floral tributes to other surfers who went into the ocean to pay tribute to his memory.
According to Mike Meyers, a Borek family friend, the fund has helped over 100 local families who have battled or who continue to fight pediatric cancer.
Meyers said Lydia Borek had told him the fund is “local, grassroots and nothing glamorous, it just pays bills.”
However, he noted, at a time when a family’s child is hospitalized with cancer, it is a glamorous thing to have the luxury to stay near that child in metropolitan hospitals as treatments begin.
“When the insurance is cut off, it is glamorous,” Meyers said. “When a parent can stay with a child at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), by their bedside, it is glamorous,” he added.
He extended thanks to Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi and the municipal staff that assists to make the annual event possible on the 30th Street beach.
Meyers said over the years, he had watched numerous friends of Brendan mature into fine adults.
Scott Soens, one of Brendan’s friends, loves to host the annual movie night as part of the weeklong event.
Soens recalled his friend as “a great guy to all who knew him.” He said when cancer struck him that is when Brendan showed “more character than ever.”
“I can’t really imagine being that strong,” Soens said. He noted that those who receive help from the High Tides Memorial Fund often demonstrate that same strong character as they endure treatments that seem to torture them as it attempts to cure them.
“The people we help are stronger than you can imagine,” he said, choking back tears.
They exhibit that strength as they “get better or try to get better,” said Soens.
Soens said the community comes together to support an event such as the High Tides Memorial Fund because it knows the children and does things to help them.
“They are strong people and we are here to make them stronger,” he added.
A list of names of young people who have been assisted by the fund was read.
After that, the parade of surfers wound it way from beach into the surf for the solemn event when floral tributes were paid and one teen’s life was remembered that has helped so many in the past 20 years.
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Brendan Borek loved to surf. He spent many hours on the beach with his friends waiting for the incoming high tides — which brought about the best surfing conditions. So it was natural for his friends to wish him “high tides” during his struggle with cancer.
In keeping with that same shared feeling of community good will, Brendan’s Fund strives to provide “High Tides” conditions for local Cape May County families who have a child or young adult with cancer.
Brendan’s Fund is a not-for-profit grassroots organization whose efforts are directed towards providing comprehensive, compassionate and personalized assistance to these special children and their families. Services range from professional counseling and advocacy programs to financial and material assistance.
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Brendan Borek Surf Contest Winners Told
AVALON — Brendan Borek High Tides Surf Contest winners have been announced. They are:
Squirts (9 & Under)
1. Michael Vanaman
2. Patrick Taylor
3. Shane Osborne
Menhuene (10 – 12)
1. Michael Vanaman
2. Greg Osborne
3. Vincent Gianta
Boys (12 – 14)
1. Elliot Hueber
2. Sean Taylor
3. Nicholas Giunta
Junior Mens (15 – 17)
1. Michael Ciaramella
2. Nick Rutkowski
3. Cassidy McClain
Men (18 – 24)
1. Michael Ciaramella
2. Nicholas Cantanese
3. Nick Rutkowski
Men’s Senior (25 – 34)
1. Brian Herron
2. Pat Rafter
3. Dan Mansor
Masters (35 – 44)
1. Tony Cutungo
2. Scott Garner
3. Scott Soens
Grand Masters (45 & Up)
1. Mike DeWald
2. Jon Hendee
3. Peter Murphy
Squirts Body Board (12 & Under)
1. Jack Hendee
2. Chase Deegan
3. Michael Hudak
Long Board Jr. (25 & Under)
1. Jimmy Naplacic
2. Rob Kalisek
3. Kevin DeWald
Long Board Sr. (26 – 49)
1. Scott Soens
2. Marc Schnepp
3. Dave Mansor
Long Board Crustaceans (50 & Up)
1. Tom Leonik
2. Mike DeWald
3. John Hendee
Girls (14 & Under)
1. Riley Balitsaris
2. Steph Haenn
3. Rebeka Ley
Women’s Juniors (15 – 17)
1. Cassidy McClain
2. Ashley Dinan
3. Becca Musumeci
Women (18 – 29)
1. Angelina Caprio
2. Anna Biegalski
3. Kara Bozillo
Women’s Senior (30 & Up)
1. Erin Schwenk
2. Beth Grant
3. Gaby Gandolfo