It was a picture-perfect day on the beach Saturday for young kids and their families enjoying the water for a cause.
The non-profit organization, Surfers for Autism, hosted an event at Pass-A-Grille Beach for hundreds of children living with autism to surf.
Many kids, like Alex Allen of Temple Terrace, had never been on a surfboard until Saturday.
"Amazing,” Allen said. “Just changed my whole life. It's awesome."
Allen and his parents said they will never forget this experience. As Alex took to the water, his mother and father watched their autistic son have the time of his life and not let anything get in the way.
"No, autism does not define his life,” said Alex’s mom, Kim Pretzer. “He kind of defines his life. He likes to try different things. If he gets frustrated, we just take a break."
"It's fantastic,” said Alex’s father, Ron Allen. “It's great seeing him out there surfing right now. He's having a great time. He was a little apprehensive but he's been having a great time all day."
So for an 8-year-old who never got on a surfboard before, how did Alex do?
"I was pretty good at the knee waves," he said. "But not so good on the stand waves."
But for his parents, he was pretty good, if not great, at every move.
The organization started the event in 2007 with just one autistic child. Now that one family has touched countless others.
Surfers for Autism tries to get to as many beaches in Florida as possible.
Fundraising, like selling t-shirts and raffling off donated products and services by local business, help keep the organization going.
Pinellas County sheriff’s deputies also took part, not only keeping an eye on the kids from land, but also through its marine unit in the water.