THE blue of the sea is being swapped for the blue of the sky by supporters of a surfing charity.
Carol Leman Cornelius, Lucy Young, Davide Mantovani and Chris Kearsley will temporarily ditch surfboards for parachutes next week to boost The Wave Project.
The group, based at Belhaven Bay, is one of two Wave Project surf therapy sites based in Scotland.
Since being set up in 2014, the award-winning surf therapy programme has gone on to help more than 100 young people each year.
Chris highlighted the importance of the initiative to youngsters aged between eight and 18 in the area.
He said: “They are referred by schools, doctors or professionals and it really works.
“My son, Mckenzie, was keen on boxing and got really let down in his first year of high school.
“I had to take him away from there and he has got severe ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder), which traumatised him and put me off work for over a year.
“We got him into The Wave Project and he is like a different kid now.”
The youngster is now a keen surfer and has taken to the waves across the country.
Chris stressed that his son was just one of those to have benefited from the project, which is managed by Alison Young.
He said: “A lot of these kids have got a lot going on these days.
“While they are in the water, catching waves and having fun, they are not thinking about what is going on in their life.
“They come out with smiles on their faces and it is amazing.
“The ocean is a healing place and I say today, if it had not been for the Wave Project, I don’t know where Mckenzie and me would be.
“It has helped immensely.”
The prospect of a skydive was spotted on social media and now Carol, Lucy, Davide and Chris are counting down until they take the plunge.
The quartet will travel to St Andrews for the tandem jump from 10,000 feet next Saturday (April 20) and hope to raise as much money as possible for the good cause.
Chris said: “I have always wanted to do one.
“If I don’t do it now, I will not get the chance – I’m hitting 57!
“That is another good thing about surfing – as long as you keep active, it is a great sport for you the older you get.”
However, once back on solid ground, Chris was confident they would quickly return to surfing.
The sport is continuing to grow in popularity, particularly since lockdown.
Belhaven Surf Club was created in 2007 and the new Belhaven Surf Centre was established in 2019, with people regularly taking to the waves off the county coast.
Chris said: “The technology and wetsuits are unbelievable. You get a winter wetsuit and it is like a wee cauldron and you don’t feel the cold.
“You are warmer in the water than out of it.
“Surfing has grown and I have noticed it myself. It has grown immensely and is just so popular since lockdown.
“Some days, Belhaven is like Bondi Beach – that is where I learned to surf!”
To make a donation, go to waveproject.co.uk/project-lo cations/scotland
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