Overcoming hurdles

Activity options

According to Dominick, swimming is the most regular adaptive sport for participants, because it's accessible. The group has three handcycles, and wheelchair users can borrow them for free.

"A few people are interested in going on like a one- or two-day trip around Beijing. It's challenging, because not many people have the upper body strength to go that far," says Dominick.

"Horseback riding is very attractive. … Many wheelchair users never thought that they would be able to do so. We're still working on how to make it a more sustainable activity for them."

A wheelchair user has to hold the saddle with his or her upper body strength. Meanwhile, a professional horse trainer leads the horse, and two other people walk alongside the horse on both sides to support the rider if necessary.

The members even went surfing and enjoyed the beach in Sanya, Hainan province. They laid on the surfboard, and coaches helped them catch the waves. The coaches also asked their students or guests to watch and help out.

Some members had a breathtaking paragliding flight, together with a professional coach, in Luoyang, Henan province.

All participants pay only the actual cost of activities, for example, 35 yuan ($5.5) for swimming, and some venues offer them a discount. For trips to other cities, family members and friends are encouraged to come along as equal participants.

The sporadic cases of COVID-19 in China are making it difficult for them to organize non-local events. Also, participants are more cautious about going out due to the ongoing pandemic.

Starting this year, Dominick says he wants to make the activities more regular. They're working with an organization to get funding, so they can reduce the cost for participants, making the activities more sustainable.

Also, they have been invited to a national wheelchair marathon contest to be held later this year in Changsha, Hunan province, to demonstrate the usage of handcycles.