Surf Relief Festival is back
The surf community will be raising funds for Surf Relief UK to give disabled and disadvantaged young people the chance to experience surfing during the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival at Watergate Bay on Saturday 26 July.
Skydivers will parachute onto the beach to officially start the festival at 2pm on Saturday 26 July, triggering a packed programme of beach games, surfing and lifesaving competitions, and family activities.
In the afternoon the Sunset Sessions will get underway with a live music festival on the sand. Organisers are close to confirming a well-known headline band for the event, with further details to be released as soon as arrangements are finalised.
“White Stuff is proud to be working with Surf Relief UK on this fantastic event at Watergate Bay for a second year,” said Susan Crawford, Marketing Manager at White Stuff. “The festival will be a unique experience combining pro surfing, family activities and music from top bands, all in a stunning location right on the beach.
“At White Stuff we have been amazed by the impact of the ‘Surfable’ project. So far over 500 disabled and disadvantaged young people have benefited from subsidised surf lessons thanks to Surf Relief UK, and we are hoping that the money raised at this year’s event will extend these opportunities to many more.”
For the first time, Watergate Bay will host a round of the UK Pro Surf Tour, with many of the country’s top professional surfers competing in five divisions. And over 100 competitors will swim, paddle and ski through the waves in the Surf Lifesaving Association of Great Britain’s races culminating in the Iron Man and Diamond Lady races.
Demonstration surfing lessons for disabled young people will be run throughout the day, providing a unique opportunity for people affected by physical and learning disabilities to experience the potentially life-changing thrill of surfing.
“The White Stuff Surf Relief Festival 2008 is a key vehicle for raising funds for the charity and in increasing the profile of the our organisation,” said Dave Manley, Chairman of Surf Relief UK. “The strong partnership between Surf Relief UK, White Stuff and Watergate Bay provides the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of many disadvantaged and disabled children and young people across the country.
“Every £15 raised for Surf Relief UK will give a disabled child or young person a one-to-one surfing lesson with an experienced instructor from our surf school network – an experience that, for many, will stay with them for ever.”
As well as raising funds for the ‘Surfable’ project, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival will see Surf Relief UK work with the Jamie Oliver-inspired restaurant Fifteen Cornwall, to jointly host a fundraising charity dinner and auction on the evening of Friday 25 July.
Fifteen Cornwall’s Executive Chef Neil Haydock will create a special six-course tasting menu for the evening, with each course served with matching wines. Following dinner, guests will be able to bid on an outstanding portfolio of experiences and items which usually money cannot buy.
