This festive season disabled and sight-impaired locals and visitors will have a chance to catch a wave at Toti main beach.
Wesley Smith, who is running his surf school at the beach, is able to transport disabled beachgoers to the waterline and into the waves, thanks to a 4×4 wheelchair that beach superintendent, Jayce Govender organised.
His first batch of ‘customers’ on Thursday, 17 December included his own son, Reece, Anita Brijala of Pietermaritzburg, who had not been into the water for five years since becoming a double amputee due to diabetes, 16-year-old Toti resident Nikki Pienaar, and Mark Naude, a visitor from Boksburg.
Reece, Anita and Nikki were just overjoyed to be pushed into the waves and get wet, but Mark got to ride two waves on a bodyboard.
“Those who want to ride the waves get pushed out to the backline and then we flip them onto a bodyboard,” said Wesley, who runs an adaptive surf school for disabled and sight-impaired youngsters at Addington Beach every Sunday. “The chair is an awesome contraption.”
Wesley is helped by a merry band of helpers and a lifeguard is in attendance every time they wheel someone into the waves.
He first got the idea after he took a disabled youngster for a ride on a bodyboard for his birthday. “I thought to myself, why should disabled people just have to watch others. Let’s get them in the water and let them have fun too.
Thanks to the Toti lifeguards and especially Jayce for all the help they give disabled people to allow them to enjoy a visit to the beach.”
If you know any disabled or sight-impaired person who would love a dip in the sea this holiday, contact Wesley on 082-802-1349 or visit Toti main beach.
