“The volunteers beside me will give me support, to calm me down,” she said, adding that they offer their hand to steady her.
Non-swimmers like her will be attending a water safety programme starting next month.
Sponsored by OCBC and run by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), the OCBC-SDSC Swim Together programme focuses on building water confidence and basic swimming skills for people with disabilities.
It was Alita’s layers of support that gave Chia the confidence to sign up in the first place, and it is also what keeps her coming back. “That’s why I feel safe taking part in this sport,” she said.
GROWTH, JOY AND WHAT COMES NEXT
As dragon boat paddling became safer and more accessible for Alita’s participants, its impact began to extend beyond the joy of taking part in the sport.
For stroke survivor Maya Seah, 45, the training sessions have had a therapeutic effect. Seah, who uses a wheelchair and whose right side is weak, joined Alita with decreased shoulder movement and low confidence.
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