This morning most of you probably woke up and got out of bed, jumped in the shower, dressed yourself, then walked to your local bus stop to get into work or maybe strolled to a cafe to grab a coffee.
Big deal, huh?
On the weekend two weeks ago I met a group of people for whom this is the equivalent of a trip to the moon, or running through a field of sunflowers chasing the love of their life - in short, getting out of bed and dressing themselves would be the sweetest experience they could dream of and, sadly, it's one which most of them will never have.
There is, however, one thrilling new experience they have now had the pleasure of enjoying: SURFING
The ocean can be a pretty intimidating place and I've seen many, many able-bodied people panic when they've been caught by breakers or rips and realised they were at the mercy of elements far more powerful than them.
Imagine that feeling if you were blind, had cerebral palsy, were quadriplegic and had no arms or legs to use - or in the case of Len, just one arm and leg?
Len lost one of each when he fell under the wheels of a train at the Wollongong steelworks more than a decade ago but that hasn't stopped him hitting waves on a body board.
The Disabled Surfers Association has some very important lessons to teach all Australians - and they extend beyond just the disabled, to the elderly, to the unfortunate, to the people living next door: you enlarge your world when you care for others.
Words: Sam Debrito
Photography: Benjamin Sherack - BENZWAVES
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