This surfing adventure was offered to us through the Roxy Davis Foundation, via Warrior on Wheels:
To the amount of volunteers needed to make these kinds of opportunities possible - thank you!
Imagine bumping into Pam! What a celebration!
Richard's thank you note to the Roxy Davis Foundation
Dear Roxy, Ant & team
A short email to say a massive THANK YOU for including us in the Adaptive Surfing clinic yesterday.
We
came to watch Sarah-Hope and Libby's cousin, Katelyn; and to scout out
whether this was something Sarah-Hope could participate in next time. On
the way to the Berg she started asking some very leading questions -
which made me realise that she was not interested in a recce but wanted
to get in the water. I was seriously worried about how this was going to
play out - one parent, two kids, one in the water, one on the beach,
the fact that we hadn't booked, or that both of them love water but
aren't at all confident around waves.
I'm still completely floored by what we experienced.
We
were welcomed, encouraged, supported and celebrated by a group of
people who epitomise what it means to share the stoke. And are doing
that for kids who literally wouldn't be able to access it without their
incredible generosity. A special shout out to Nasiera. My girls usually take a long time to warm up to anyone new
but they felt so at home. They absolutely loved it and cannot wait for
the next time.
It also meant the world to me
that they got to experience this together. Libby just can't get over the
fact that everyone was cheering for her as she zoomed along.
On
a personal level, I used to work in the surf industry (I was at Atoll
Media, who published Blunt, Zig Zag and Saltwater Girl) but have hardly
surfed since Sarah-Hope was born. To be in the water, with both girls at
the same time, when they each caught their first wave was utterly
profound and deeply healing.
I can't thank you enough.
Richard
--------------------------------------------
Roxy Davis Foundation Response
Afternoon Richard,
Thank you for your very touching email!
I
believe most of the thanks should go to you, Libby and Sarah-Hope. The
Berg Family courage and determination were key in making the afternoon
such a success. Thank you for taking a chance and joining in - Sunday
afternoon again showed us that together many small actions can make a
huge difference - a group of volunteers arrived at the beach, a quick
briefing and the next thing fun was being had in the waves by one and
all! At one point there were quite a few passersby's who had stopped to
enjoy in the magical moments.
I don't
think Roxy or Ant could have wished for a better experience! We look
forward to sharing many, many more with you and your family.
I'll
be sure to share your email with Nasiera - your are spot on Libby and
Sarah-Hope connected with her on a level I have not seen before - beyond
heart warming.
Take care and we'll see you on the 22nd of September if not before!
