MURRELLS INLET, SC (WBTW) – Hundreds of people came out to the 3rd Annual Chicken Bog Challenge in Murrells Inlet on Sunday, which raised money for the Surf Dreams Foundation.
The non-profit gives children free surf lessons, provides them with surfing equipment and takes them on surf trips.
Surfing has always played a vital role in Philip Jackson’s life, who founded the Surf Dreams Foundation with a goal of introducing children to the sport in hopes that it will positively impact their lives.
“I actually got out of surfing because of drugs, and I became a drug addict and things got really bad for me,” Jackson said. “I turned my life around and recovered with the help of the community and a bunch of other people, and I found a need in the community to help kids surf and get more kids into surfing. It helped save my life so maybe we can save some other lives.”
The Surf Dreams Foundation teaches children the fundamentals of surfing, but Jackson says they also learn other important lessons along the way.
“We teach life skills on the trip, so how to pack their board bags, how to organize their clothes and how to order food at restaurants, and we take them and show them the sights of the country and we even do some overseas stuff,” Jackson said.
The 3rd Annual Chicken Bog Challenge was their biggest year yet, bringing 23 chefs together in a competition to see who could cook the best chicken bog.
“(Chicken bog) is a staple in the south, especially Horry and Georgetown counties,” Jackson said.
To read more about the Surf Dreams Foundation and their other events throughout the year, click here.
