This week on One in Five, Katy Gosset visits the Surfability Day at Christchurch's Sumner Beach.

The event, run by the local longboarders club, offers people with disabilities a chance to get out in the waves, each supported by a large crew of volunteers.

The club runs an event each year to give something back to its beachside community: this year it chose the Surfability concept proposed by a club member, Gary Butt, who had run similar events in Kaitaia.

The participants include novices and, in some cases, more experienced surfers testing the waters again after a life-changing accident.

Mark and Sammy
Left: Mark James (fourth from the right) with volunteers from the Sumner Longboarders Club
Right: Sammy Khan and his teacher, Sharon Scott at Sumner Beach

Sammy in surf
Left:Sammy Khan warms up before taking to the surf
Right: Sammy Khan in the surf