Bob Meistrell at the JMMF Ocean Therapy with Wounded Warriors

Bob and Patty joined Jim Miller and the other JMMF volunteers yesterday for the JMMF Ocean Therapy with the Wounded Warrior Battalion. The Marines were thrilled to meet the living legend. Bob regaled the group with great stories of inspiration, and of course diving and surfing. By coincidence, the topic for our discussion group--what the Marines affectionately call the Kumbaya sessions--was overcoming injuries and what inspires recovery. Bob's story of breaking his neck and back at the first high school football game, and then recovering for such a long and successful life, was perfectly awesome.

Brad Thomas wins 2011 Catalina Classic

Another Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race has come and gone and the winner is Dr Brad Thomas of Redondo Beach, CA. 82 people showed up to paddle across the channel from the Isthmus, Catalina to the Manhattan Beach Pier. The strenuous 32 miles of open ocean race wasn't easy but Thomas managed it in 5 hours and 22 minutes.

Also paddling in the race, was a relay team of 12 people including 2 wounded Marines, who paddled to raise money for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation Wounded Warriors Ocean Therapy Program.

First Place Winner Brad Thomas

First and Second Place Winners

Tom Horton

Body Glove's own Matt Walls finished 11th

Matt Walls & Scott Rusher

Matt Singly

Kevin Cody

Hula Hula

George Loren

Catalina Classic Finishers

* Photos by Mike Balzer

Mike Losness and Timmy Curran Help Out Wounded Marines

Mike Losness and good friend Timmy Curran took some time last week to work with the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation and help some wounded active Marines feel the healing power of the ocean. Mike and Timmy and a dozen other volunteers were down at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA helping these Wounded Warriors learn to surf and discuss how surfing and ocean related activities can help in their long term health and recovery.

After pushing the guys into some waves and the participating in JMMF ocean therapy discussion sessions, the boys put on a little surf show in the fun punchy peaks on the base and got the crowd amped to see what the pro can really do on a board.

For more info and photos please check out www.jimmymillerfoundation.org. Look for more footage in the upcoming Timmy Curran movie "The Union Express" coming out in Fall of 2009.

All photos by Todd Glaser