Sun wasn’t needed when smiles like these brightened up the beach. In celebration of Disability Awareness Month, on Saturday, July 11, Play It Forward, the adaptive sports program of Wheeling Forward, brought together children and adults with disabilities, families, volunteers, and more for a free day of adaptive surfing on Beach 69th Street. In an ever-growing event, more than 1,200 people came out for the inspirational day despite the rain.
The day brought together 223 participants from toddlers to seniors with disabilities and conditions ranging from autism to cerebral palsy, spinal cord and brain injuries, amputees and more. They were assisted by 468 volunteers who helped with check in, clean up and were spread among nine teams in the water to help the participants ride the waves. Adaptive equipment such as beach wheelchairs came in handy and the teams worked together to lift participants into the air on long adaptive boards and get them into the water, situating and guiding them into a perfect wave. The reaction? Huge smiles and thumbs up all across the surf.
As participants finished their session or waited for their turn, they were treated to music and lunch, along with their caregivers and family, which accounted for another 550+ people. The biggest Play it Forward event in Rockaway yet, the event covered more space than ever and required four additional surf boards to meet the demand.
For many of the participants from across New York, it was a brand-new experience. “This past weekend was my first time adaptive surfing and it was an epic experience! All that Play It Forward and the volunteers did for us was truly amazing!” one participant said after the event. “When I first arrived, I was overwhelmed with emotion to see how many people showed up to spend their day putting a smile on our faces! I’m very fortunate to have an active and supportive family, but seeing strangers come together and share love and kindness made my heart even more full!”
For some, it helped them to overcome fears that come along with living with their disability. “Thank you for organizing that surf event. Honestly, I was scared doing it. I even closed my eyes the whole time I was in the water. I have no balance, so I couldn’t sit on the board. It’s been over 20 years since I’ve been in the water. I’ve been to the boardwalk but never in the water itself, so making a way to actually get on the water was cool,” another participant said.
Another added, “Today was my first adaptive surfing experience and I can’t stop smiling! The beach is my happy place and somehow, I love it even more! Being in the water is so freeing and catching a wave is pretty rad. Thank you to Play It Forward, to everyone who donated, and all the volunteers for showing up with so much kindness, patience, and heart.”
Play It Forward’s next event wilk be adaptive skiing on Jamaica Bay on Saturday, August 22. For more info, check out https://wheelingforward.org/playitforward/ and follow @playitforwardnewyork on Instagram for more photos and updates.
Photos by Katie McFadden.
