A swim in the surf on a hot summer’s day is a treat for anyone.
But for Hudson, a dip in the ocean is a rare event.
The four year-old was born with cerebral palsy but is getting to enjoy catching a wave thanks to volunteers from the Gold Coast Disabled Surfers Association.
“It’s probably the most I’ve seen him enjoy anything apart from horse riding which he does as well,” says Hudson’s mother Petria.
Hudson is one of about 40 people with disabilities enjoying a surfing lesson at this beach.
“For a lot of these kids they don’t get a chance to come to the beach or even get in the ocean so it can be a once a month thing or sometimes it’s the first time they’ve ever been in the ocean,” says one of the organisers of the event, Ian Gay.
Taking a child with a disability to the beach can be fraught with difficulties for parents, so now they too can enjoy themselves.
“They can sort of relax a little bit they know the kids are in good hands and they love seeing them have so much fun,” says Gay.
“She was a little bit cold today but coming out she was full of smiles,” says Kerrie Butler after her daughter enjoyed some surfing.
For this event to be a success it takes an army of volunteers. More than 100 people gave up their time to help local children with disabilities enjoy a rare day at the beach.
“We wouldn’t be able to come and have a surf without the amazing organisation of the disability surfing organisation for us so it’s great to be able to have that,” says Butler.
(AP)
