A Healing Touch
Susan Stafford is a force to be reckoned with
If you were lucky, you were able to experience the amazingness that is Surfer’s Healing last month. It was my first time being able to attend and I was in awe over the scope of the event. An entire village was constructed beach-front to provide a community of surfing, fun, and sunshine for autistic children. I was so impressed at how organized the event was, and how smoothly everything ran in spite of it’s enormity. That wouldn’t be possible without the year-round dedication of planners Nancy Hussey and Susan Stafford.
In addition to doing property management, Susan has been working with Surfer’s Healing for nine out of the 10 years it has been running on Folly Beach, and is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the arduous tasks of fundraising and finding sponsors and volunteers. It’s obvious that this cause is a labor of love that she is incredibly passionate about.
I recently sat down with Susan to learn more about her.
FOLLY CURRENT: How did you find your way to Folly Beach?
SUSAN STAFFORD: I was born and raised in Columbia, SC. I raised my own family there, and I have three children. I moved to Greenville, but I would come down this way to participate in all the dancing events. I am an avid Shag dancer! 12 years ago I got the opportunity move here, and was feeling it was time for a new beginning, so I did! I moved down all by myself, and it’s been a great decision.
FC: What is your favorite thing about the island?
SS: The easy, simple life. It’s a small community, which I’m not used to growing up in Columbia. The location is great, I enjoy the closeness to Charleston and Isle of Palms, and its really easy to make friends. I also like that the businesses are local, and there are no fast food places so if I want it I have to go all the way to James Island! I don’t miss the chains, since I’ve lived here, I think I’ve been to the mall twice.
FC: How did you get involved in volunteering?
SS: When I first moved here, I met Flo, and she got me helping with the Folly Angels. They assist with Follypalooza, which is coming up on October 21st and raises money for locals with cancer. I then got very involved in Surfer’s Healing, and we will have a booth set up at Follypalooza selling T-shirts and bracelets. Surfer’s Healing has an event about every 6 weeks or so to raise proceeds for the big event. On October 15th there is an appreciation event for our wonderful volunteers. In addition to volunteer recruitment, I also find raffle items, approach restaurants about donating food, and find companies for sponsorship. That takes a long time, it’s not something we can start a couple months before the event! I wake up every single morning with Surfer’s Healing as my first thought, and its my last thought at night. It’s very important to keep the word out there and keep people aware.
FC: Does the event have a personal connection for you?
SS: Yes, I have an 11-year old grandson who is autistic. I don’t get to see him that often, and I think my participation has been a way to connect with him. Autism can be a very overwhelming condition, and it effects so many people. I’ve become very close with many of the families. There is one single mother with triplets, two who are on the spectrum, that drives all the way down from Charlotte. It’s families like hers that I think about all the time. Our whole community really comes together for them.
FC: What is one thing your neighbors would be surprised to know about you?
SS: I love to sing! I was a choir girl, and sang at my wedding and some other events, and I still like to sing in my car to beach music. Oh, and my name growing up was Elizabeth Taylor until I started going by my first name, Susan.
Writer Miranda Stonecypher is a local musician, mother, and freelance writer. To reach her, you can email her at mirandaalicejordan@gmail.com.
