On 7 May 2019, Dano Swart broke his neck in a rugby tackle. He would soon realise that life as he knew it had changed forever. A prosperous young man who had the world at his fingertips. Dano suddenly lost his ability to function outside of a wheelchair.

Although he is one of the most positive people you will ever meet, this does not mean he has not had to overcome constant barriers for the rest of his life. Dano was not only blessed as an exceptional sportsman, but also worked extremely hard throughout his life to be recognised as one of the best rugby and cricket players this country has ever seen. To sum it all up, sport is his life.

Through every tribulation and setback over the past five years, he has continued to live life to the fullest, facing every challenge head-on.

However, there remains a significant issue: there is no community in South Africa that gives Dano—or any other differently abled individual—the opportunity to push the limits of their abilities and enhance their quality of life. Today, Dano is a quadriplegic who wants to give people like himself the opportunity to be the hero of their own story. He wants to provide others with the opportunities that he never had.

Through his positive outlook on life and his desire to change the lives of people like himself, Dano believes that South Africa will be a better place if he and his team build a community where differently abled people can experience a sense of belonging and purpose. The foundation is built on the belief that involvement in sport, at any level, increases self-esteem, encourages independence, and enhances quality of life.

The Beyond Barriers Foundation achieves this by providing funding for training, competition, rehabilitation, and equipment for differently abled athletes.