SD Cards cortical vision impairment

Camp gives visually impaired kids opportunity to surf

On Mason Leonard's first couple of rides to shore, he pulled himself up to his knees. Soon, he was on his feet, but still holding the handles on top of the board. His mother, Colleen Leonard, at times cheered and at times filmed each ride.

Her 11-year-old son has optic nerve atrophy and cortical visual impairment. She said he loves the ocean.

"We thought we'd let him surf this year," Leonard said, noting the family is from Cary and this is their first experience with the Indo Jax Surf Camp.

"This enables them to do stuff they see other kids doing," Leonard said. "It's been amazing. I just have been so thrilled to watch him be able to do stuff that I know he absolutely is enjoying and loving."

She said Mason would not have the opportunity for this experience if not for the surf camp's volunteers.

Jack Viorel, president of Indo Jax Surf Charities, said the weeklong sessions offer an opportunity for all involved to shed their belief in limitations.

"The instructors can have them, the parents can have them and the kids can have them," Viorel said, adding one of the key missions is to shed those limitations "so that we leave with a sense of ‘if we can do this, we can do anything.'"

"Same with the kids," he said. "We want them to leave with that sense, that if they can do this, they can do anything they put their minds to."

For Kris Shields, her husband, Barry, and their three kids, the week has been a family affair. Cindy, age 12, is blind but her sister, Hadley, and little brother, Zan-der, were also allowed to take part in the activities.

"This camp has been the most amazing thing for our family," Shields said. "There aren't a lot sports that the kids can do together. So when Jack told us that the siblings could come, too, it was absolutely unbelievable.

"That's all they've talked about all summer, is getting to come and do this."

This is the third year for the camp and third year for some of the campers.

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