Sports

S.C. Surfers Join U.S. in Raising Cash for Al Merrick's Granddaughter

When a giant in the surf board manufacturing industry calls for help, the thousands of surfers who love his boards answer.

Al Merrick, founder of Channel Island Surf Boards, has a 9-year-old granddaughter Daisy who is fighting through her third bout with cancer, and members of a group called Christian Surfers are hosting dozens of paddle-outs across the U.S. to raise money for her hugely expensive treatment, said Johathan Downing of San Clemente.

Downing is the director of the Christian Surfers of San Clemente. He said he expects 200 people to show up to the San Clemente Pier at around 8 a.m. Saturday to join thousands of other surfers across the country.

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"Al Merrick has had such a large impact on the surfing industry; he's probably the largest surf board maker in the world," Downing said. "If you're in the surfing industry, everyone knows Al Merrick."


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