“Soul Surfer” star Bethany Hamilton visits Fourth Presbyterian School. Photo Contributed.
Fourth Presbyterian School welcomed professional surfer Bethany Hamilton to campus in April. Hamilton became well known after she lost her left arm to a shark attack while surfing at the age of 13. Just one month later, she was back in the water pursuing her passion of surfing, and just over a year later won her first national title. In 2007 she turned pro and has since competed in a number of Association of Surfing Professionals and World Tour Events. In March, she won the Surf N Sea Pipeline Women’s Pro held in Oahu, Hawaii.
Hamilton shared her story in her 2004 autobiography “Soul Surfer,” and seven years later her book was made into a movie of the same name.
Accompanied by her husband Adam, Hamilton spoke to Fourth School’s Kindergarten through 8th grade classes. She shared about what her life is like now and also took questions from numerous students. That evening, she was the special guest speaker at the school’s spring gala held at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda.
The Fourth Presbyterian School is a Christ-centered school for children 3 years old to 8th grade.