Introducing "Rocco Up", a Story About a Boy Who Fell in Love with the Ocean

By Louise Phillips Forbes, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Can a wave change your life? It’s a question that I have pondered many times, while chasing the thrill of the surf or simply finding peace in the rippling tide. Sometimes, a wave can knock you out and send you back to the beach with a different perspective. Sometimes, the change is more profound. This is Rocco’s story.

I met Rocco when he was three years old, in one of my favorite places in the world: Montauk. Over the years, this wonderful autistic boy fell in love with the ocean and, supported by the boundless love of family and community, found his flow on the surfboard.

You can now watch his story in the new documentary "Rocco Up," which encapsulates our delicate relationship to the sea, to family, and to love. You will find yourself murmuring “up” as Rocco tries to lift himself onto his surfboard for the first time, knowing that when he makes it, it’ll be the best feeling in the world.

You can watch "Rocco Up" this Friday, July 1, at Hero Beach Club in Montauk, NY. Help us bring his story to the big screen by donating here.

Can a wave change your life? Maybe. A lifetime of waves? That’s inevitable.