Friends make sure Alabama man fulfills his dream of going to the beach

He spent years imagining what it would be like, and finally, David Thomas was able to see the ocean.

Thomas, 36, was born with cerebral palsy, and before Sunday, had never been to the beach before. He lives in Bessemer, Alabama, and told CNN he's only left the county once. His childhood friend, Izas Fuller, decided it was time for Thomas to fulfill his lifelong dream, and asked friends on Facebook to pitch in so he could rent a special wheelchair for Thomas to go over sand. He raised enough to cover the chair for two days, and when the rental company found out about this special trip, it let him keep the chair out for two more days.

On Sunday, the friends, who are "basically like brothers," arrived in Panama City Beach, Florida. "I've never really seen anything like this before, because I never really go anywhere," Thomas told CNN. "So, to just sit there and look at it with my own two eyes was something amazing." Thomas has spent his time at the beach soaking in the sun and feeling the sand on his feet, and was also able to go deep-sea fishing on Wednesday. "This is the best summer vacation ever in my life," he said.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up