Liam Dennehy is not your typical teenager and he’s not your typical surfer either. At just 19 years old, he is a Digital Content Creator who studies Communications at Deltech in Georgetown; and for the last 3 years has been an Ocean Lifeguard for the Delaware State Beach Patrol in Cape Henlopen State Park. Liam is also a Video Creator who admits he’s always had a passion for filmmaking. “Even at just 10 years old, I filmed nerf-gun fights with friends,” he smiles. “I was always drawn to it, did it for school, and I just love entertaining.” Liam is responsible for almost all the video montages and Reels seen on the Delaware State Beach Patrol’s social media pages of the various lifeguarding competitions. “Everyone loves to see the action footage,” he says.
As a Southern Delaware local, Liam is no stranger to water sports and has a deep-rooted love of the ocean. “My dad is a surfer,” Liam explains. His father hails from New Zealand, and Liam has family there. So, it only makes sense that, at just 8 years old, Liam learned to surf while visiting New Zealand; and his love for the sport never waned. However, instead of pursuing competitive surfing, he channeled his passion into philanthropic surfing. “My real passion is helping people.”
For most of his life Liam has been a volunteer for a local Adaptive Surfing organization, Surfgimp; having grown up in and around the organization—before it was even an official foundation. “My dad’s best friend and our longtime family friend, Jay Liesener, was a local guy here in Delaware who was quadriplegic. He broke his neck doing a backflip on a trampoline at 17,” Liam explains. “But Jay never let his disability limit his thrill seeking, and my dad and some other volunteers helped Jay to surf—they were the original Team Surfgimp.”
For years they surfed locally, and helped Jay enjoy surfing, hang gliding, snorkeling and skydiving. When Jay’s health declined in 2017 and he ultimately passed, Team Surfgimp created the charitable organization “Surfgimp Foundation” in Jay’s honor to help people with disabilities live an active lifestyle. “I am so thankful for having grown up in this environment,” Liam says. “When Jay passed, and my dad stepped down, [from the physical action of swimming and surfing] that is when I started. And now, I’m the next generation to step up.” Liam assists with adaptive surfing both in the water and on the back of jet skis, “It’s kids my age, surfing at the Pro Level with maybe just one less arm than me—they are absolutely amazing,” he said.
At just 17 years old Liam traveled with the Surfgimp Foundation to volunteer and help at the adaptive surfing competition in San Diego, California. “The next year, I went to San Diego, Hawaii, and Australia—I turned 19 in Hawaii” he smiled. In the upcoming year, Liam plans to attend all four International Adaptive Surfing Competitions; San Diego, Hawaii, Australia and Costa Rica. Liam explains that in addition to volunteering by physically surfing and swimming; he is always ready to film. “I always take my camera out there when I help. This is Jay’s legacy and it’s my honor to be a part of it, either in the water or behind the lens.”
Since 2018, Surfgimp Foundation has raised and given out over $400,000 in support, – providing funding for adaptive equipment, wetsuits, lifts, lessons, camps, sponsorships, and travel/entry fees for national and international competitions; all for people who are physically disabled, but still seeking adventure. They sponsor help for various sports, including adaptive rock climbing, snowboarding, hockey, dragon boat racing, fencing, surfing, swimming and more. To follow Liam’s lead; get stoked, ride the wave, and make a difference. Drop-in and check out Surfgimp Foundation at surfgimpfoundation.org You can sign-up to volunteer or just make a ‘gnarly’ donation.
