RENO, Nev. (KOLO) -A disabled athlete is feeling like himself again after being surprised with custom sports equipment.
In October 2020, Bassem Mansour was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a truck, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
“I didn’t know what I would be able to do, or if I would be able to do anything before I got hurt. I can’t walk and now I use a wheelchair,” explained Mansour.
Before the accident, Mansour and his family led an active lifestyle, something Mansour wasn’t sure he could continue. But Achieve Tahoe had other plans.
“It means everything to me to get back in the water after my injury,” said Mansour.
Achieve Tahoe, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that provides sports and recreation programs in Northern California for people with disabilities, recently received a $50,000 grant from Hartford’s Adaptive Sports program for new adaptive sports equipment. The donation allowed Achieve Tahoe, a member of the Move United Network, to enhance its adaptive sports programming through the purchase of additional equipment for kayaking, archery, hiking and climbing programs to better serve individuals with physical disabilities. Marina Gardiner, Director of Guest Services at Achieve Tahoe, was part of the team that chose Mansour to receive its own adaptive water ski.
“He is excited to learn the sport, wants to achieve as much independence as possible and is willing to put in the time,” Gardiner said.
Instead of two skis that you stand on, Mansour’s new adaptive water ski is a long slab with a foot-only seat and restraints. He says the new equipment took some getting used to.
“You start with a ski that’s really thick and has these little stabilizers that balance you and keep you upright. You keep the ski on, but you take the stabilizers off, and slowly as you get better, you get leaner and leaner,” Mansour said.
Returning to the sports he loves, Mansour says it has made all the difference in his recovery.
“I think doing adaptive sports and something that keeps you active and around people is crucial,” Mansour said.
Copyright 2024 KOLO. All rights reserved.
