Funds in the balance

After catching 80 waves in two hours, Dan Forte was pretty sore, but happy.

Those waves meant financial help to pay for Jay Thomas’ medical bills, after an accident paralyzed the former surfer in the beginning of March.

Forte, also known as Dano, the name of his surf store, promoted the surf-a-thon, a fundraising event that took place Tuesday in Newport Beach.

For two hours, Forte surfed and people donated money for each wave he caught.

Steve Rogers, a friend of Thomas and Forte and also the official wave counter, was happy with the way the event was going.

“Some people donate 10 cents per wave, sometimes even $10 a wave. If he [Forte] keeps the way he is doing, we’ll probably raise $8,000 or $10,000.”

Forte did not have a final fundraising tally as of Tuesday afternoon.

Rogers said that amount is not enough to cover all the medical expenses Thomas is incurring, because he is still hospitalized but, he says, “We are also doing another fundraiser at the House of Blues, on Monday, May 18. We should raise about $40,000. All tickets are sold out. There will be some bands there and they are playing for free. This idea came from Jay’s best friend, who is a tour manager for Social Distortion, one of the bands.”

The four bands that will be playing in Anaheim on Monday are Social Distortion, the Vandals, the Black Tibetans and Japanese Motors.

In March, while surfing in Huntington Beach, surfer and restaurant manager Thomas, 32, of Costa Mesa, suffered a C6 spinal cord injury, which left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Since then he’s had two successful surgeries and has been in physical therapy five days a week. Doctors say he is making progress. However, they are uncertain about how much Thomas will be able to recover.

“Only time will tell,” Forte said. He and Thomas have been friends for five years, and it was a shock when Thomas had the accident.

Forte had the idea for the surf-a-thon based on a friend’s experience.

“A friend did it for his daughter who had cancer. I got the idea from him, although it’s a different event,” Forte said.

The weather was overcast, but the event attracted some people who were there showing their love and support for Thomas’ cause.

“He is the best guy ever,” says Kelly Ann, friend and former co-worker at the Spaghetti Bender restaurant.

How To Help

If you wish to donate to the Jay Thomas Special Needs Trust, visit jaysroadtorecovery.blogspot.com.

If You Go

WHAT: Rock to Recovery, a benefit for Jay Thomas

WHO: Social Distortion, the Vandals, the Black Tibetans, Japanese Motors

WHEN: Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday

WHERE: House of Blues Anaheim, 1530 S Disneyland Drive, Anaheim

COST: $40

INFO: jaysroadtorecovery.blogspot.com