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Interview with Daniel Gomez from Mexico: Intern at Ability360
1. Please tell us a little about yourself, your injury story, hobbies you have, etc.
I am the Founder and Director of SURFEANDO SONRISAS, a nonprofit with the mission to offer sport opportunities to kids with disabilities, we offer them the chance to surf in a secure environment. I am son of Martha and Jorge, I have two brothers (Rodrigo and Andres) and 1 sister (Georgina). I was born in Mexico City but I moved to Acapulco to live. Acapulco gave me the chance to experience a lot of ocean activities, that’s why I am so passionate about the ocean. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a degree in Corporate Finance from ITESM University.
The AZSCIA interviewed Daniel Gomez, a man on a mission from Mexico who is interning at Ability360, to learn ways to better his nonprofit organization, Surfeando Sonrisas.
I worked in Deloitte in Financial Advisory, then I moved to Inbursa Bank were I developed myself in Advisory and Investment Management and my recent job was in the family business in a construction company. I was in a dirt bike accident, it happened while I was training at a local track in Mexico City. It was raining and the track was covered in mud, when I approached the first jump I hesitated and instead of breaking, I decelerated while I was jumping, so I flipped over and crashed. I broke my back at T8 level and I am complete. I am into sports, especially water sports. I practice Surf, Triathlon and open water swimming.
2. What was your mission coming to America from Mexico?
- Networking with people from around the world and the adaptive world
- Have a better understanding on how to raise money through nonprofits
- Learn how to remove those barriers against people with disability through sports in Mexico
- First of all, and most important, is to start action and get this movement started
- Sports are awesome and they create good feelings in people but besides giving them the opportunity to surf, I want to also guide them and help them to be a better friend, a better brother, a better person and I will try to make it happen based on my journey experience.
- Leading by example.