My name is Damaris Morales, and I’m beginning the next chapter of a lifelong mission: to show that surfing is more than a sport, it’s therapy.
I’ve been accepted into a PhD program at Edinburgh Napier University, where I’ll study how surfing can be used as therapy to improve mental and physical health. This research is supported by leading surf therapy experts Dr. Jamie Marshall and Brendon Ferrier, and it’s the first step toward creating a research hub in my home country, the Dominican Republic, a space that could benefit the entire Caribbean and Latin America.
Why This Matters
Too many young people today are trapped in cycles of violence, trauma, and poor mental health. Health systems often overlook the healing power of movement, nature, and human connection.
Surf therapy offers a way. Studies show it can support emotional regulation, resilience, physical activity, and social connection. But in the Caribbean and Latin America, there are no formal research hubs, no toolkits, and no clear paths for clinicians or communities to implement it.
That’s where this PhD — and your support — comes in.
The Project
Year 1: Complete my PhD research in Edinburgh with the support of leading academics, piloting methods that measure surfing’s health benefits.
Pilot in the Dominican Republic: Adapt proven surf therapy models into a culturally relevant intervention for at-risk youth in Puerto Plata, a coastal town where school dropout and violence are high.
Beyond the Pilot: Build a Surf Therapy Research & Training Center in the Dominican Republic, serving as a hub for the Caribbean and Latin America.
Long-Term Goal: Provide clinicians and community leaders with toolkits and protocols so surfing can be integrated into broader public health strategies as a complementary approach to support mental and physical health.
Why I Need Your Help
My place in the PhD is confirmed, but I need help covering my first year of tuition and the basic cost of living in Edinburgh so I can fully focus on the research. The target is $40,000. This will cover tuition, research costs, and day-to-day living for the year; the foundation needed to build this work from the ground up.
Your contribution will directly help:
Fund my first year of PhD research at Edinburgh Napier University
Support the groundwork for the pilot surf therapy intervention in the Dominican Republic
Lay the foundation for a regional research hub that will train practitioners across the Caribbean and LATAM
This project is not just academic for me, it’s personal. Surfing has given me resilience, balance, and healing. Through this PhD, my mission is to develop the research needed to integrate surfing into public health strategies. My vision is to lay the foundation for a hub that expands access to surf therapy across the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, and Latin America, opening the door for young people in difficult circumstances to experience the healing power of the ocean.
How You Can Help
* Donate: Every contribution, no matter the size, brings this vision closer to reality.
* Share: Please share this campaign with friends, colleagues, and networks who care about mental health, youth empowerment, and innovative public health solutions.
* Partner: If you are an organization or foundation interested in collaboration, I would love to connect.
Together for a Future Beyond Waves!
This isn’t just about surfing: it’s about hope, healing, and resilience.
With your help, we can create a future where surfing is recognized as a powerful complementary therapy, transforming lives across the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Thank you for believing in this vision.
Project Website: http://www.damarismorales-surfhealth.com/
With a contribution of £2,500 or more, you can add your logo to our website and join a community of partners who believe in this research and its potential to shape the future of public health.