Focus Trust Believe talks to William Leadbetter from Walking on Waves, he is on a mission and has a passion for teaching people with disabilities to surf. It’s a goal for him to change the world one wave, one smile, and one soul at a time with love, through surf therapy and fun sessions.
FTB recognizes William’s love for this and in collaboration with Waves School of Surfing will coordinate a surf session with the kids from Leolan in Mossel bay this Monday, 19 June, at 10am at Diaz beach.
Q. William, what were you doing before Walking on Waves and how did you get into coaching people with disabilities?
A. Before I got involved with surfing, I was involved as a sales manager in the fitness industry (Planet Fitness). I have always been sports orientated, and have loved exercising, long distance running, cycling, mountain biking and cricket. To be honest I had no idea I would end up surfing and instructing; truth be told I was rather fearful of deep water and what could lurk below unseen!
Q. How long has Walking on Waves been operation for and where did the first lesson happen?
A. The first time I ever got to help anyone differently abled was in September 2015 when a mom approached me and asked me to take her son into the sea. Ashton Davids is a shining example that being in a wheelchair is not the end of life. With the help of volunteers and friends in 2015 we were able to take Ashton surfing 3 times. Ashton has Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy and has since then gone onto to represent South Africa at an international level by competing at the World Adaptive Surfing Championship in California last year in December..
Seeing the joy on Ashton’s face opened my eyes to the need that the differently abled should also be enabled to enjoy the sea and the feeling of being on a wave.
That was the birth of Walking On Waves – Ashton’s first wave.
Q. What brings you to the Garden Route?
A. Adaptive Surfing as a whole is growing as a sport in South Africa with different organisations operating in Muizenberg, the West Coast and KZN.
From the Garden Route up to the Eastern Cape there is vacant stretch of ocean that the differently abled have never experienced the joy of.
I was invited by a friend to see if I could find a way to get some children from the Leolan Academy into the sea at Dias Beach.
Since arriving in Mossel Bay and I have seen that there is truly a great need here with various schools working with Special Needs Children.
Already just by speaking to people I have witnessed a great willingness and enthusiasm to get involved and assist, to help make it possible to get the children from Leolan into the sea.
Q. What are your dreams and aspirations for the future of walking on waves?
A. Where do I see Walking On Waves going? The ocean is a very big place with an endless horizon. Walking On Waves is truly about changing the world one wave, one smile, one soul at a time with love.
I see a need for a second base on the Garden as we already have one in Muizenberg.
Nothing would bring me greater joy than to visit schools, hospitals, go I to rural areas to meet and help Special Needs Children and share love.
Walking On Waves is not only limited to sharing smiles and love in the sea.
I see Walking On Waves being able to make an impact in South Africa all along our coast line and in the lives of international volunteers who take the message of WOW home with them and share it with friends and family.
Q. This is obviously a pure passion for you. How have you managed to rally support to allow you to pursue this incredible passion to help other people?
A. I consider anyone who gets involved with Walking On Waves as part of the WOW family irrespective of how they get involved. A family dedicated to sharing smiles and loads of love.
I was involved with a Surfing Outreach Program for almost 17 months, so many of WOW’S sponsors are ex-volunteers who I worked with then from all over the world – America, France, Germany and Canada.
Some of Walking On Waves sponsors I have never met, but they have seen the heart-warming smiles on social media and offered to get involved.
Reef SA has truly been amazing in helping WOW to develop specially adapted wetsuits to make the experience more practical for students with various disabilities. A disability is truly a different ability so nobody is actually disabled.
Red Paddle SA has sponsored WOW with an adapted inflatable SUP.
The Altitude Foundation which, through skills and educational training helps adults who are differently abled, sponsored WOW’S first adapted wetsuits.
Q. What is your motivation to work on something like this?
A. The only motivation I have to continue working on Walking On Waves and investing my soul into it, is love. To be able to share the ocean purely out of love with children and adults who otherwise would never get the chance to feel what it’s like to be on a wave, the freedom you feel. The love of surfing is liberating I could say.
I want to introduce WOW and its message to as many people as possible because this is what impacts the lives of those who get involved. When you are giving from your heart you are sowing joy in your soul. Time is a gift. It’s not ours to keep but to share with others – that’s why it’s called “the present”.
In the end the smile says it all. It touches and warms your heart, and you walk away encouraged, blessed and truly thankful for your health.
More importantly with your time and love you have impacted the life of another person through the ocean, and I don’t think there could be a greater motivation. It’s all about love. It’s like a fire once you start it, it grows and gets bigger. Soon the flames are warming hearts and lives globally.
We at FTB and WSS commend William.
I think you’ve opened a big can of worms here and this project is going to spread like wildfire. I hope you’re ready for this!