imagine if Mark Occhilupo was your surf coach. Doesn’t get much better than that. A living legend imparting his years of wisdom through that twangy voice.
That’s what happened to an eight-year-old cancer patient named Daniel after the Make A Wish Foundation heard his dream and hooked him up. In addition to getting a surf lesson with Occy, Daniel got two custom surfboards, crafted completely to his liking, from Darren Handley of DHD Surfboards and Mt Woodgee Surfboards.
Daniel was diagnosed with spinal cell sarcoma, which is a rare form of cancer, especially in children. After x-rays, doctors found a tumor in his upper arm, which led to eight months of intensive chemotherapy. It’s an incredibly rough set of hurdles for a child to overcome, but Daniel came out on top, beating the cancer. And he’s got big plans for his future.
Daniel says: “When I grow up I wanna be a rugby player, a physiotherapist, a surfer, and a dentist.”
Right on, Daniel!
