13-year-old Kobe’s happy place is the ocean. He lives close to the beach in Gisborne and loves to swim, boogie board and surf with his family – Mum, Dad, and younger sister and brother.

Kobe is a healthy young man with Down Syndrome. Being in and by the ocean is a place where Kobe’s anxiety levels are reduced, and he feels a sense of calm. No matter the season, Kobe will be in the ocean!

He is very interested in surfing – and the rest of his family can all surf. Kobe can catch a wave on his stomach on a surfboard but struggles to stand up and balance which is extremely frustrating when his family are all able to do so.

Kobe wants to learn to surf, and with the help of Fund For Good has got a Stand-up Paddle Board, a wetsuit to keep him warm and private surf lessons. Using a Stand-Up Paddle Board will make things easier for Kobe as he learns to both stand up and then balance. And the soft-top will reduce the risk of injury while he learns the art of surfing.

The process of learning to surf and having his own equipment will help grow Kobe’s confidence as well as a sense of pride and importance. Ultimately it will enable him to feel included in an activity that the family enjoys together, enhance his skills in an area that brings him great joy and calm and be part of a wider surfing community that is hugely popular with young people his age in Gisborne.
 

Kobe is an absolute superstar and has such an incredible passion and determination for surfing.

A big congratulations to Kobe, one of our successful Fund For Good recipients. Fund For Good is an innovation programme helping to fund special projects and dreams of Manawanui customers which can’t be funded elsewhere. We are so pleased to be able to help Kobe join his family and be a part of his local surf community.