A disability action group in Rio de Janeiro is helping get people out of their wheelchairs and into the waves. Complete with adapted chairs, trained instructors and miles of coastline AdaptSurf is on a mission to help everyone to learn to surf.
With almost 5-thousand miles of coastline beaches are a crucial part of life in brazil. in rio one charity is making sure that everyone - including the disabled - can enjoy the water and catch a wave.
Henrique cardoso saraiva founded adaptsurf in 2007 after a violent mugging left him partially paralyzed. he says he started surfing on his knees. surfing changed my life he says.
With adaptsurf everyone is welcome in the water. including those with cerbral palsy or who might be missing a limb or even paralyzed.
Using an amphibious wheelchair and the help of volunteers this student with multiple sclerosis relishes feeling part of the waves. the water is delicious she says.
While this mother of an adaptsurf student with down syndrome is thrilled the group exists. she says her daughter has always loved water and can now combine her love of the sea with excercise.
Every weekend more and more people come to rio from as far away as the capital brasilia - more than 700 miles away - to attend adaptsurf.
Similar groups exist in vibrant beach communities elsewhere but saraiva says this is the first of its kind in brazil. thanks to a generous donation he hopes the charity will soon expand to other beaches across the country.
With almost 5-thousand miles of coastline beaches are a crucial part of life in brazil. in rio one charity is making sure that everyone - including the disabled - can enjoy the water and catch a wave.
Henrique cardoso saraiva founded adaptsurf in 2007 after a violent mugging left him partially paralyzed. he says he started surfing on his knees. surfing changed my life he says.
With adaptsurf everyone is welcome in the water. including those with cerbral palsy or who might be missing a limb or even paralyzed.
Using an amphibious wheelchair and the help of volunteers this student with multiple sclerosis relishes feeling part of the waves. the water is delicious she says.
While this mother of an adaptsurf student with down syndrome is thrilled the group exists. she says her daughter has always loved water and can now combine her love of the sea with excercise.
Every weekend more and more people come to rio from as far away as the capital brasilia - more than 700 miles away - to attend adaptsurf.
Similar groups exist in vibrant beach communities elsewhere but saraiva says this is the first of its kind in brazil. thanks to a generous donation he hopes the charity will soon expand to other beaches across the country.
Source: AP
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