While surfing Poverty Beach during Hurricane Humberto on September 30, 2001, Chad DeSatnick suffered a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in which he shattered his C6 & C7 vertebrae. After neurosurgeons performed an 11-hour surgery at ACMC to repair the damage, Chad was told he may never walk, and certainly would never surf again.

During an extensive rehabilitation program, which he still continues today, Chad realized the number of SCI’s in Cape May was increasing as a result of a 50-year beach replenishment project. He began lobbying City Council to bring awareness to the public. A beach safety program was created to educate local students about the dangers and benefits of living in a coastal community. Additionally, dangerous shore break signs were posted at every beach entrance, and media outlets across the Tri-State area covered his safety campaign.

Along with Jesse Billauer, founder of the Life Rolls On Foundation, Chad organized New Jersey and New York events for their signature program, "They Will Surf Again", a free, one-day experience championed by volunteers who get people living with paralysis into the ocean on adaptive surfboards. For the past decade, the event has grown from 12 to over 50 participants.

Their inaugural event, The Cape May Golf Tournament, netted over $250,000 for the Life Rolls On Foundation. It proved there was a definite need for local activities and events for those affected by SCI in the Southern New Jersey region.

In February 2013, The DeSatnick Foundation was recognized by the IRS and State of New Jersey as a nonprofit, and aimed to provide emotional and financial assistance for those individuals living with paralysis in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

In 2015, the Life Rolls On Foundation recognized Chad as the Volunteer of the Year.