A wave of thrill-seekers made a splash at Waihī Beach for the annual Adaptive Surfing Day on January 18.
Waihī Beach Surf School instructor Aidan Comrie and his crew led a group of more than 17 people from Parafed Waikato, which is a non-profit sport organisation that provides opportunities in the sport and recreation world for people with physical and visual impairments.
Each Parafed member has a different disability and requires varying levels of support in the surf. And this is where the Waihī Beach community steps up.
Live Well Waihī Beach is a community-led organisation that helps groups and organisations collaborate and grow community services, assets and messaging, and when they put out the call out for volunteers for the Adaptive Surfing Day, more than 30 volunteers showed up.
Community co-ordinator Cindy Clare said the event was beneficial for the community.
“The inspiration we, as volunteers, get from meeting the Parafed members and seeing what is possible against all physical barriers is incredible. And it brings our volunteer community together with positivity.”
Live Well Waihī Beach also managed the beach mats and wheelchairs for the event.
Parafed sport development officer Cathy Wooller said: “we love Waihī Beach for our surfing day”.
“It’s not just due to the mats and beach wheelchairs, but also the people and the community.”
Cathy said the support they received from Waihī Beach Surf School and Live Well Waihī Beach was fantastic, and the number of volunteers who showed up full of energy was priceless.
