Joy rides at Jan Juc

HITTING the waves this summer is a given for some, but a luxury for others who find navigating the sand challenging with loved ones with a disability.

Brad Papworth from the Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club (JJSLSC) said the club joined forces with the Kids Plus foundation to give 12 Geelong children with cerebral palsy a chance to enjoy the surf.

“We’re doing a surf awareness program with Kids Plus, a voluntary physiotherapy group, that runs a week-long intensive program every summer and this year they wanted to come to the beach,” Mr Papworth said.

“A lot of the kids in the program can’t get here because it’s too hard from mum and dad to actually get them onto the beach. It’s all about surf awareness with physio, learning how to walk in the sand and feeling the waves and water pull you out.

“This is the first year we’ve been involved but as a community club moving forward it’s what we want to do more of.

“The response from our (JJSLSC) kids has been fantastic; we’ve got kids ranging from 14-16 years old putting their hands up to help out and they’re seeing how some kids are not as lucky.”

Kids Plus physiotherapist and sport and recreation co-ordinator Louise Daniels said the program allows the kids to reach therapy goals in a fun environment.

“It promotes participation because they’re doing stuff within the community and it’s great for the surf club kids to have experience with people who have a variety of abilities, and for them to get to know and work with different kids,” she said.

“On days like today the kids don’t really feel like they’re doing much therapy stuff, it’s just about having fun.”

A mother of a participant said it was the first time her 22-year-old daughter had been in the waves since she was a little girl.

“She wouldn’t even remember the last time we came to the beach. She’s absolutely loving today, it’s beautiful to watch her having fun. As a parent I can’t thank the volunteers enough, they’ve been spectacular and the whole program is an amazing thing for our kids,” she said.