In a modern world where it's seemingly easier to discourage an activity than encourage it, Port Macquarie surf coach Wayne Hudson has taken the opportunity to flip the script.
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As New South Wales starts to reopen on October 11, Mr Hudson felt it was an ideal time to open up about his diabetes diagnosis as a seven-year-old.
If he had have listened to what he was told as a young kid holidaying in Coffs Harbour, he would never have achieved anything.
"There are all these challenges out there today that people are dealing with and at the time I was a seven-year-old little kid on holidays in Coffs Harbour and I fainted," he said.
"I'd been getting skinnier and skinnier over the months with the diabetes coming on, but we didn't know and I was airlifted to Sydney and my parents were too so it was a big shock to the family.
"We were told when I was seven that my life expectancy was going to be shorter and there were going to be complications unless I looked after myself."
At the time, sport was not going to be a viable option.
But the five-time state and three-time national surfing champion made a habit out of defying the odds and he wants others to feel inspired.
Rather than be reckless, the Port Macquarie identity spent most of his time researching his diabetes diagnosis where he created a way of dealing with it.
We were told when I was seven that my life expectancy was going to be shorter and there were going to be complications unless I looked after myself.
- Wayne Hudson
"It's a good motivator for a lot of people being told no, but it also depends on the person as well. It can drive you, but I just want to stay healthy and I want to keep living my life to the best I can. I'm not going to let diabetes stop me."
Mr Hudson said there was a stereotype associated with diabetes, but he said an individual's condition shouldn't define them.
"It's more of a challenge, but nowadays with COVID and any condition you have, it's a challenge; it shouldn't stop anyone," he said.
"It depends on what you want to do. Find out what it is and then if you want to do a sport, or acting, or whatever it is, depending on what condition you have, learn about it. If you do that and know how things happen, you can make an informed decision."
"It's more of a challenge, but nowadays with COVID and any condition you have, it's a challenge; it shouldn't stop anyone.
- Wayne Hudson
Mr Hudson admitted there were things he couldn't do, but he hasn't focused on that. It was more what he could to.
"I haven't looked into that stuff like not being able to fly a plane or go up into space," he said.
"I'm never going to do it so I'm not going to worry about it. The things I want to do I learn about and then work out if it's safe to continue," he said.
"If it is, do it."
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