Sue, in a specialized all-terrain beach wheelchair, is being assisted in the shallow ocean water, while a lifeguard takes a photo and a surfer walks by.
The soft sand of Scottburgh Main Beach, located along the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast of South Africa, is no longer a barrier for wheelchair users, following a resident's six-week fundraising campaign to purchase a specialist all-terrain beach wheelchair.
Sue Martin, an adaptive sports advocate and resident of the nearby Renishaw Hills estate, raised R60,000 to buy the chair. It is now available free of charge at Surfers Paradise for anyone living with a disability.
“This has never just been about buying a wheelchair,” Martin said. “It’s about giving people the freedom to experience the ocean with their families, creating a more inclusive community, and showing that disability should never prevent someone from enjoying our beautiful coastline.”
Martin partnered with the Quadriplegic Association of South Africa to launch a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign. Contributions came from family, friends, fellow residents, Renishaw Property Developments, and local Democratic Alliance councillor Dana Daniels.
