06/06/2026
**Long Story** ***Assateague Collection** **Booed out of a Salisbury MD Facebook group*** First Donation to Surfriders Foundation of OceanCity MD***
Earlier this week, I shared with you, the Assateague Island themed Collection.
A collection of 2 t-shirts and a patch hat…
Inspired by the story of Brendan Kyle , the Maryland Surfer who was bit by a shark…and then immediately attacked by his peers over and over again!
Almost instantly, he was mocked, ridiculed, and made fun of.
On the most horrific day of his life, when he needed humanity most…he needed support, he needed to be able to safely share his story…it hurt my heart. I think most of us can related to experiencing a traumatic event, one that changes who you are…forever…but to have it diminished afterwards and made fun of is unthinkable.
I thought by making the collection and donating 10 percent of all the sales to help him with medical bills…we could somehow show him the world isn’t full of jerks.
Then he decided, that instead of accepting any money, he wanted his portion of the sales to go to the Surfrider Foundation - Ocean City Maryland Chapter
…fast forward…………So the time came this week, and I had to share the collection….and I knew, there was no way around ,sharing it in Maryland Facebook groups…who would I be if I didn’t give people the opportunity to support a fellow Marylander for a good cause??!
I was sooo scared! I had multiple conversations with loved ones about potentially getting my feelings hurt…the strong possibility for negative backlash…some of which I wasn’t fully aware of. BUT….with my hands shaking…I posted the collection in an Assateague Island Group, and in a Salisbury, MD group.
And the post was DENIED in the ASSATEAGUE ISLAND GROUP, and in the Salisbury, MD group…I was booed out! They made fun of me, they called it “slop” ….after a tear or 2…I left that group. Someone from that group then came to the Threaded Together 302 page to continue the mob mentality …and left a bad review. And it was really scary for a minute, and equally as sad.
Later that evening, feeling beaten up….and reflecting on what the lesson could have possibly been that day…a shirt sold! 1 of the Assateague Island shirts sold! I got to message Brendan and tell him one sold! That somewhere, there is a human that found inspiration or meaning in his story!
And the world is not full of jerks!
And there are good people in this world!
And one day, he will see you, somewhere on the Delmarva Peninsula, wearing your Assateague Island shirt….and it will be beautiful!
And for me, everything scary and aweful that happened this week….was suddenly overshadowed by the fact…that because of 1 persons support of this mission…we got to make a donation to the Surfrider Foundation of Ocean City today! And that, is what it was all about. That’s all Brendan asked for…and today,this donation, in the name of Brendan and the 1 person who believed….is a testament….
….that we are all Stronger than the Storm…..
And your actions, while they may seem so small….can cast ripples that go far beyond what your eyes can see….🙏❤️
(I didn’t see a place to technically put it in his name…they got my name off of my card) but I declare it in the name of the surfer Brendan Kyle! ❤️🙏
Attached is the screen shot of the donation- I did add to it to make it $15 and then there was a small fee…