A 10-year-old Scots quadruple amputee is set to become the youngest ever athlete to compete in a top US surfing competition. Jade Edward will be representing Scotland in the ISA World Para Surf Championships in California as part of the first ever Scottish Para Surf Team - having only taken up the sport last year.
The schoolgirl, from Aberdeenshire, lost her arms and legs after contracting Meningococcal Septicaemia, a life-threatening condition, while just a toddler. Jade had to undergo emergency treatment to have her limbs removed at the age of just two years old.
Despite being hospitalised for six months as a tot and consigned to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, the Meldrum Primary School pupil has remained fearless in the face of adventure, and learned to surf by lying down on the board on her stomach, with assistance from professionals.
Jade is now gearing up to ride the waves alongside people of all ages, nations and abilities - including Paralympic Gold Medallist Karen Drake - at the end of the month, with the eventual aim of taking her much-loved hobby all the way to the Paralympic Games in 2028.
Jade's dad, Fraser Edward, 47, told the Record: "The only thing the doctors could do to save Jay was to amputate her arms and legs. It's the only reason she's still alive. In Jade's eyes, she's not disabled.
"One day, I was going on a hillwalk and Jay said, ‘can I come with you?’ I said, ‘you don't have legs, darling, you can't come’, but she said, ‘let's try’. We don’t think there are many other young quadruple amputees in Scotland.
"The ones we have met elsewhere lost limbs in tragic incidents, it's different to having had meningitis. She has a unique experience to others. She'll be part of the first ever Scottish surfing team to compete on the world stage. It's an opportunity nobody has ever seen before.”
In day-to-day life, Jade uses a power chair to get to and from school and a skateboard when she's out playing. At home, she scoots around by shuffling on her bum. She was first introduced to surfing after being approached by SurfABLE instructor, Kevin Anderson, on a beach in Moray last summer, and has never looked back.
Jade's career progressed in July this year when she attended the English Para Surf Competition in Bristol, where organisers were stunned at her "natural ability" on the board, and invited her to compete stateside. She will be jetting off with her dad, mum, Lisa, 47, and sister, Linsey, 13, for the contest on November 30.
Fraser continued: "Being in the water gives her so much freedom. She's encountered horrendous weather conditions but never loses confidence. It’s a match made in heaven. She's lived with her disability all her life, but surfing has really welcomed her."
Jade added: “There’s not many 10-year-olds who get the chance to do this. My mum said it will be really good to be with other people with different abilities rather than always being the one who is different. I can’t wait.”
If you would like to donate to The Scottish Para Surf Team to help Jade on her way, click here.
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