D-Fenders Assistant Coach Chucky Brown presents the Heroes Among Us award to Jesse Billauer, founder of Life Rolls On. Noah Graham/NBAE/Getty Images

On January 28, the Los Angeles D-Fenders presented their Heroes Among Us award to Jesse Billauer, founder of Life Rolls On (LRO). Presenting this month’s award was assistant coach Chucky Brown.

Life Rolls On is a non-profit 501(c)3 Foundation that exists to be a grassroots resource that provides hope and is an advocate on behalf of young people whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injury (SCI).

Billauer, a former top rated amateur surfer, was surfing when he was pushed headfirst into a shallow sandbar, fracturing his neck and severing his spinal cord, leaving him a quadriplegic. Since then he has resumed an active lifestyle, surfing with the help of adapted equipment. Over that last year, while on his speaking tour, Billauer has delivered his message of overcoming adversity to over 40,000 people.

LRO’s most popular program, They Will Surf Again (TWSA), helps those who have suffered a SCI to get back in the water and surf. In the future, TWSA plans on expanding into other sports including snowboarding and motocross. Thanks to the efforts of Billauer and LRO, several hundred thousand dollars have been raised for SCI research.

Billauer is an inspiration to all who have met him or heard his story and he is truly a Hero Among Us.

If you would like to learn more about Jesse Billauer and Life Rolls On or would like to make a donation to support spinal cord injury research, visit www.liferollson.org.

If you would like to nominate someone who you feel is deserving of the Heroes Among Us award, click here.

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