CALIFORNIA, USA — A Sacramento State student received an adaptive water ski Thursday at Wake Island Waterpark in Sutter County.
Bassem Mansour, 19, is a paraplegic-adapted water skier. Now, he has his own custom-fit, sit-down water ski.
"This means everything to me. I'm so happy that I have all these wonderful people to support me and my journey to get back on the water, so this is truly awesome for me," Mansour said.
Mansour is an athlete with Achieve Tahoe, a nonprofit organization based out of Truckee working to provide affordable and inclusive recreational activities.
Haakon Lang-Ree, the executive director of Achieve Tahoe, said it received a grant from The Hartford to help get new equipment for its summer outdoor recreation programs. With the grant, it will be able to expand its programming with more adaptive equipment including archery, kayaking, climbing and hiking.
"We were able to acknowledge one of our athletes. We were able to award him a sit-down water ski that he can use right here at Wake Island," said Lang-Ree.
Mansour was injured in 2020 after he was hit by a pickup truck towing a boat while on a bike ride near his home in El Dorado Hills. According to UC Davis Health, it wasn't the first time Mansour was treated there as he also battled cancer as a baby.
Find more information on Achieve Tahoe HERE.
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