SMITHVILLE LAKE, Mo. — A group of volunteers from Midwest Adaptive Sports provided new levels of water access for people with disabilities.
This is the 28thu season Midwest Adaptive Sports had their day at the lake.
Water skiing, kayaking, fishing — they were all on the agenda Friday at Lake Smithville.
For the first time, they opened it up to teenagers under the age of 16.
“When I watch video of it, it looks really cool and it looks like a lot of fun, so I was willing to give it a try,” Mac Summerfield said.
For 13-year-old Summerfield, if fear is a word, he doesn't know it.
“No, don't be afraid, he'll do anything,” said Megan Summerfield, Mack's mother.
For the first time, Mac Summerfield felt the pull of a speedboat.
“Oh that's awesome,” she said.
Mac Summerfield's dwarfism affects his limbs and reach, but his slide into Lake Smithville was a breeze.
“I thought this was life,” he said. “My friends, they don't know what they're missing, and if they do, it's unfortunate.”
According to his mother, it doesn't affect his desire to try new things.
“She just wants to try everything,” Megan Summerfield said. “He wants to experience everything like anyone else and is ready to do whatever he can.”
That's why, at just 13 years old, Mac Summerfield is on swim team, wheelchair basketball, robotics and now kayaking. He is preparing for seventh grade at Platte Purchase Middle School.
“I'm really excited for him,” Megan Summerfield said. “This is an awesome experience to do and he's having the time of his life.”
Another forty-five people with various spinal cord injuries, amputations and other disabilities got their first chance at water sports, with several boats and jet skis alongside them.
“It gives them more reasons to do things and more motivation for school and it gives them opportunities to do fun sports that they love,” Megan Summerfield said.
Each of them took off from the dock, hitting the water with specialized equipment and a team of trained volunteers by their side.
It was a day to try something new and tomorrow, we hope to empower people to do something they may have thought was impossible.
“It might affect my limbs, but it never affects my spirit as me, because I still like to be independent and stuff,” she said.
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