TIDE OF GOODWILL FOR TSUNAMI SURF RELIEF DAY

Final details of what is shaping up to be a spectacular Surf Relief Day have been announce by Tsunami Surf Relief UK (TSRUK), the British Surfing Association-backed group behind the nationwide event.

In just three short months since its inception following the Boxing Day disaster, this fundraising group at the core of the UK surfing community has galvanised support from individual surfers and big business across the multi-million pound surf industry to raise funds for the coastal communities devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

A shell-shocked team from TSRUK returned from Sri Lanka in February reporting concerns over the distribution of aid in the region. Dave Manley, Chairman of TSRUK and part of the visiting working party, explains: “Almost the whole population of the east coast has been left homeless and people are either living in tents on the sites of their homes which have been reduced to rubble; or in refugee camps, too afraid to return to their villages.” TSRUK developed links with local aid agencies during the visit, establishing procedures for families to apply for funding to build new homes.

The organisation, which is awaiting registration by the Charities Commission, is also committed to long term regeneration projects in the affected areas.

Saturday April 9 th will see charity surfing events taking place in Jersey, Plymouth, North Wales, Isle of Wight, Scarborough, Dunbar, Devon, Cornwall and Berkshire. Even land-locked London surfers will make their contribution. All regional contests include attractions and entertainment for all the family from Surf Cinema (Abersoch, Wales) to a massive £50,000 surf clothing sale (Fistral Beach, Newquay). Affiliated events include Christian Surfers’ Thames surfboard paddle from Maidenhead to Windsor and (of course) the après-surf parties – the really hot tickets!

World famous Fistral Beach in Newquay will host the official TSRUK Open Surf Contest commencing at 9.00am on Saturday 9 th April 2005.