Selina Ragless wanted to make the beach more inclusive after a visit to West Wittering revealed that Worthing was missing facilities available elsewhere
Beach wheelchairs are to become available in Worthing next week after a mum's day trip to West Wittering inspired a campaign to make her local seaside more accessible.
Selina Ragless decided to strive for change after being able to hire a beach wheelchair for her son during a day trip which allowed her to "enjoy a day out on the beach as a family" for the first time.
She has since secured a child chair, an adults chair and a rollator - all of which are able to book from next week.
Selina recalled how it all began: "We have a son who is disabled and a wheelchair user.
"From past experience, we've only been able to access the beach once properly as a family, with the hire of a beach wheelchair in West Wittering.
"When I saw that, and I had that feeling, I thought why can't anyone else enjoy that here in Worthing?"
It was this experience that set her campaign in motion: "I set about raising the funds to make this happen.
"I did this by asking local companies to donate prizes of which I could raffle off, I also set up a GoFund Me page of which many people were delighted to donate to.
"I teamed up with A local counsellor Vicky Wells and also Polly Bishop from Independent Lives who have been a massive help in getting the ball rolling with the council and local community."
Selina is also the admin of a Facebook group 'Worthing Beach Wheelchair Fund' which has amassed over 350 members.
She uses this group for updates and to connect with locals whose families also have accessibility needs - taking into account their comments when she looks to secure new equipment.
Selina adds there's still "a lot of work to be done - such as hoists, perhaps a ramp down to the sea."
But right now, the focus is on celebrating the huge change she's already achieved: "We are just overjoyed that at the moment we do have an adult's chair, we do have a child's chair and a rollator so that people can actually access the beach for a cup of tea, a coffee and just take in what we have to have to offer here in Worthing."
Meetings are taking place soon to discuss further accessibility additions.
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