Team News

South Coast Surfing Community and Lizzard to Host Heather Clark Fundraiser Event This Saturday

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 October, 2009 : - - The south coast surfing, bodyboarding and lifesaving community along with Heather Clark’s main sponsor Lizzard will be hosting a fundraising beach event this Saturday 31 October 2009 at Saint Mikes Beach on the KZN South Coast.

The ISA World Masters Surfing Champion Heather “Fergie” Clark (Port Shepstone) is hoping to be released from hospital today (28 October) following a serious car accident on Thursday night (22 October). A massive national fundraising initiative has been started by Surfing South Africa surfingsouthafrica.co.za to assist the Clark family with medical bills and Heather’s loss of income over the next few months.

“The Lizzard Tag Team junior surfing event is taking place on Sunday so we decided to stage another surfing event the day before in order to raise funds for one of the south coast’s most well-loved surfers. We would like to encourage people to come along to show their support and enjoy a fun family day on the beach at St Mikes,” commented well respected south coast lifeguard, surfer and bodyboarder Derek Footit who is running the event on behalf of Factory 7.

The surfing event divisions include U16, U20, Ladies, Masters and Open Men’s. There are lots of generous sponsored prizes up for grabs as well as a raffle for a Safari Surfboard on the day.

Members of the public are encouraged to enter the event by contacting Factory 7 - Toll Free on 0800 FSEVEN (37 38 36) or to SMS 083 488 3916 with the entrant’s name, age and division; alternatively call 039 315 5014 for more information. Entry fees are payable on the day at a cost of R50 per division.

Raffle tickets will cost R20 each for the Safari Surfboard which will be drawn at the prize giving. There will be fun events throughout the day.

“Surfing is Heather's number one passion and therefore the surfing event will be the main attraction on the day; but there are other family activities on offer in the form of beach soccer, touch rugby, Jet Ski displays with Criterion Yamaha showing off their latest motorsports vehicles, plus jumping castles for the kids to enjoy and some beach activities too, run by the Margate Saints Surf Lifesaving Club. We also have a Fashion Show planned to showcase some of the latest summer season fashions,” commented Footit.

The Restaurant on the beach, C-Bali, will be selling Boerewors rolls, hamburgers and refreshments with all of the proceeds going to the fundraiser. “I am confident that this event will show the support of the community, through the family, friends and local surfers that have come together in help of a friend in need of love and support,” said Footit.

Organisers would like to thank C-Bali, Tarboton Motors and Criterion Yamaha in Port Shepstone, SKZN Surfing’s Henry and Lesley Oppel, Ant Brodowicz of Surf Action and Heather Clarks Sponsors, Lizzard and Red Bull who've given all the support they can to help with this fundraising event.

“Surfers are a special bunch of people and the saying – once a surfer, always a surfer – rings true. When something like this happens it is an opportunity for us to show that we are a tribe; when one of our own faces adversity we naturally band together to help,” commented Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa who has been instrumental in generating national and international awareness of the fundraising efforts.

To contribute members of the public can go online to surfingsouthafrica.co.za. 

Clark has been surfing for 22 years, has surfed professionally for 12 years and is widely known as one of South Africa’s most successful and well-loved surfers – she is still the only South African surfer to have won the prestigious Triple Crown of Surfing in Hawaii. Fergie, as she is known by her friends and family, earns a living as a swimming and surfing coach on the south coast of KZN.

www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za

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Olivia Symcox

Team - Surfersvillage