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Christmas has come one month early for Healing Waves. The surfing charity has received funding from Enable Jersey to buy the island's first wheelchair adapted surfboard, so that they can continue making waves with islanders regardless of their abilities.
Support workers and surfing enthusiasts Dominic Booth, Seán Burke and Max Wiltshire set up 'Healing Waves - Ocean Therapy' in September to help all people enjoy the benefits of the ocean.
The special surfboard should help with that mission. Max Wiltshire told Express: "We are ecstatic! It's fantastic news and it's all really exciting. There was a lot of work behind the scenes to make it happen. We met a few times with Enable Jersey who were thinking about setting up an event about all sports at about the same time we started our sessions.
"They agreed to give us some funding which we decided would have to go to something in everyone's best interest. So we decided to buy a wheelchair adapted board. It was one of our long-term goals. It means we will be able to be even more inclusive and won't have to reject anyone who is in a wheelchair or anyone who needs to be sitting for whatever reason it is."
Pictured: Surfable, a friendly access scheme in Scotland, also has an adaptive board.
The board measures 12 feet in length and 34 inches in width, and features a race car-style bucket seat. It was developed with occupational therapists and can be padded to be make it more comfortable or to accommodate people of different ages and heights. Made to order, it costs £3,000 and will be delivered early next year,
"They are making it as we speak," Max explained. The trio first had the idea to buy one after learning of Surfability UK, a Welsh common interest company, who use one for their sessions (pictured). Ben Clifford, its director, will be the one delivering the board along with training for Max, Dom, Seàn and their volunteers.
Following the announcement on Facebook, the trio received a wave of messages of encouragement. Max says that the support they received since the launch has only been positive. "It is nothing short of amazing! We were all shocked, we didn't expect such a response. We are still in our first six months and it is so nice to have that kind of support.
Video: The Healing Waves team enjoy a Christmas Flowrider session.
"This is our next step in trying to be as inclusive as possible and it is really touching to see how much it means to people. It is so nice to see that people want to do this. The benefit is very apparent as well. It means a lot to all of us, we never thought it would take off this way. It is humbling and we really are at a loss for words."
While the trio were aiming for a winter of fundraising and planning for the next year, it looks like they will have their hands full. They recently secured sponsorship from the Merton Hotel Aqua Dome, enabling them to run Flowrider sessions during December. Max said: "The sessions have brought a little community together and we have the benefits of social connection on some of our service users. It's great news to know we will be able to run our sessions, and help people until the end of the year."
While the weeks ahead look like they will be busy, the trio can count on their pool of 20 volunteers. Max says: "They all are very good candidates and deserve the utmost credit. Without them, we wouldn't be able to run to that capacity. They really go above and beyond. Everyone is doing their bit. One of our volunteers, James Miller, is fighting in Rumble on the Rock to raise money for us and we will be fundraising during the whole evening."
Pictured: Seán Burke (left), Max Wiltshire and Dominic Booth (right) with some of their volunteers and service users.
Having had one of their big wish come true and helped over 30 people get in the water - "more than what we thought we would do" - what have the surfing trio got planned for next year? The answer is more! Max commented: "We want to help more services users and continue making a difference on the island. We also want to raise awareness of ocean therapy and the blue minds and their benefits. We have more ideas for next year and we will announce them in due course. We just want to continue benefit the lives of others."
The positive news comes during Enable Jersey's Week of Celebration ahead of this Sunday's UN International Day of Disability. As part of that week, the charity are hosting a series of events - one of which being a music social alongside Healing Waves this Sunday at the Watersplash.
Tonight, meanwhile, there'll be a premiere of a short film about islander Melissa Alves, who defied others' expectations and achieved impressive feats despite using a wheelchair.
The line-up:
Follow Express for more information about Enable Jersey’s Week of Celebration, and the stories of inspiring islanders who have overcome the challenges of disability.
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