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Mae Murray Sub6 Surf Day
I went over to Northern Ireland to see my family, but I also got the chance to do something absolutely amazing – SURFING!
I went surfing at Portsalon East Strand with the Mae Murray Foundation and SUB6 Surf School.
And I didn't just sit on a surfboard for a photograph.
I properly went surfing!
Getting Everyone Onto the Beach
One of the things that made the day possible was having the right facilities, equipment and, most importantly, people who knew exactly what they were doing.
There were great accessible facilities, including Changing Places facilities, which makes such a difference when you are a wheelchair user.
Getting me from my wheelchair onto the beach was quite a team effort!
First, a ProMove sling was carefully placed underneath me.
Four people then used the loops and handles on the ProMove to safely lift me into a specialist beach chair.
I was wheeled across the sand and down towards the sea.
Once we reached the water, the team used the ProMove again to transfer me safely onto the adapted surfboard.
The surfboard had a supportive bucket seat, which helped me stay in a good position while I was surfing.
It took equipment, planning and several trained people, but everyone knew what they were doing.
Into the Sea!
Then came the exciting bit.
I was surfing!
Once I was on the surfboard and out on the water, I had no fear at all.
That was because I trusted the people around me.
The staff were well trained, professional and really looked after me. I felt safe, which meant I could forget about everything else and just enjoy being out on the waves.
The surfing was outstanding.
There is something incredible about being out on the sea, feeling the board moving through the water and catching the waves.
I felt ecstatic afterwards.
It was one of those experiences where you come out of the water thinking:
I want to do that again!
An Amazing Team
The Mae Murray Foundation team included Nora, Kate, Reagan and Sophia.
Nora is also my dad's first cousin, so there was a lovely family connection to the day.
I also got to meet my second cousin Cara and Jimmy, which made the trip even more special.
The SUB6 Surf School team included Carl, his sister Leah and three other brilliant members of staff whose names I unfortunately can't remember!
A massive thank you to every single one of them.
SUB6 Surf School was run incredibly professionally. From getting me onto the beach to transferring me onto the surfboard and supporting me in the sea, I felt that everyone knew exactly what they were doing.
That professionalism gave me the confidence to enjoy the experience without being frightened.
Why We Need More Places Like This
The Mae Murray Foundation funds these surfing sessions, which cost around £300 per session.
They currently provide around 10 surfing days each year.
But they are so busy that they could do many more.
That tells us something important.
People want these opportunities.
For many disabled people, getting onto a beach isn't straightforward.
You need accessible changing facilities.
You need the right beach wheelchairs.
You need specialist equipment.
You need trained people.
And you need organisations that believe disabled people should be able to experience the sea and surfing just like everyone else.
We need facilities like this on many more beaches across the UK and Ireland.
There are brilliant examples of what can be achieved, including the accessible surf facilities developed by Surfability in Wales.
Imagine if more beaches had proper accessible facilities alongside trained adaptive surfing teams.
It could open up the sea to so many more people.
More Than Just Surfing
For me, this wasn't simply an activity to fill an afternoon while visiting family in Northern Ireland.
It was freedom.
It was excitement.
It was being out on the water without worrying about my wheelchair or what I couldn't do.
When I was on that surfboard, I wasn't thinking about disability.
I was thinking about catching the next wave.
I feel incredibly grateful that facilities and organisations like the Mae Murray Foundation, SUB6 Surf School and Changing Places exist across the UK and Ireland.
Thank you to everyone who made it happen.
You gave me an experience I won't forget.
And hopefully one day, opportunities like this won't be available on just a handful of beaches.
They'll be available everywhere.
Because everyone should have the chance to feel what I felt out there on the water.