Reece Smith got to experience the oily, flapping joy of the Sardine Run for the very first time! Known for his amazing can-do attitude and advocacy for disability awareness, he was wheeled right onto the sandy shores of Amanzimtoti Main Beach for a sensory adventure that will no doubt stay with him forever.
Amanzimtoti, South Africa (06 June 2025) – So, the Sardine Run has officially hit KwaZulu-Natal‘s southern shores, and the people are buzzing!
One of the moments that hasn’t only been doing the rounds on social media but has warmed our hearts too is that of Reece Smith, popularly known as “Rolling with Reece”, getting to experience all the sardine excitement for the very first time.
The Amanzimtoti resident is a friendly face to many, known for his can-do attitude, love for sports and advocacy for disability awareness.
A video shared on Facebook shows Reece being wheeled down the sandy shores of Amanzimtoti Main Beach before he had a seriously slippery sensory experience with the floppy, tiny fish that had been netted on Tuesday.
Sharing his experience with us during a quick chat, Reece described the moment as awesome, fun and completely different to anything he had done before!
“The fish were very oily and flapping all over me. It was just so fun. I didn’t get to take any home, but the local lifeguards did manage to make some, and I got to taste it. It was awesome,” he shares.
“The Sardine Run fever was certainly a unique experience. I’ve never actually experienced it before. Just the number of fishermen that were there pulling the net, the teamwork, effort, energy and the vibe were magnificent! Even a bunch of strangers just came down to join and take some sardines.”
For Reece, a driven quadriplegic, the fun experience defied the seemingly invisible limitations that tend to exist for physically challenged individuals.
Through his and his dad’s joint project Wheels on Waves, they have been progressively making “accessibility to fun” for the disabled community a reality.
Together, they have also been learning sign language and will invite learners from the Durban School for the Hearing Impaired to enjoy the joys of the beach.
“One message I could share with other people facing physical challenges is that when they get these kinds of opportunities [to have fun], to not be scared,” Reece says.
“Obviously, it’s a bit nerve-wrecking to go into something you’ve never experienced before, but I suggest that they give it a go. You never know if you’re going to enjoy it or not. Even I was a bit nervous about getting thrown into the sardines, but honestly, it was an awesome experience. I loved it.”
Sources: Nothando Mthembu | Reece Smith
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