Beach wheelchair for paraplegic swimmer

If you ask Brad Justin how he's doing, he will respond, "I've never had it so good." Brad is a t6 paraplegic who doesn't let his disability stop him from doing anything. Although Brad is paralyzed from mid-chest down as a result of an industrial accident, this 60-year-old man swims to the buoys 300 meters offshore at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas nearly every day. Brad uses a beach wheelchair, provided by the Encinitas lifeguards through charitable donations.  Brad's swims are both recreational and therapeutic; however, when he travels, during busy summer beach days when other people are using the chair, and when the lifeguard tower is closed, Brad is unable to swim due to lack of access to a beach wheelchair. We would like to purchase a beach wheelchair for Brad so that he can take it with him during his travels and provide more opportunity for other individuals with disabilities to use the publicly accessed chairs at Moonlight Beach.

In addition to his own recreational use of the beach wheelchair, Brad uses the chair when he volunteers with the Encinitas Junior Lifeguard in order to help educate participants about spinal cord injury and motivate them to overcome life’s challenges (see local news clip below). Although the Junior Lifeguard summer program was suspended this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brad prepared a video clip to continue to inspire young people to keep up their spirits (see Youtube video below). Brad Justin inspires both able-bodied and disabled individuals throughout the community to strive for excellence and overcome obstacles. Help us to help Brad purchase a beach wheelchair so that he can keep swimming and inspire others to do the same.

Local news clip featuring Brad
WheelEEZ Beach Wheelchair Page