Donated surfboards finally reach surfers in Sri Lanka
Arugam Bay Surfers
Paddle4Relief (P4R) Founder, Tim Tanton, with the help of representatives from both Arugam Bay Surf Club and West Coast Surf Club, have finally managed to get the donated shipment of surfboards cleared from Sri Lankan Customs!
The 36 boards were sent out by the Braunton charity in February, but were delayed at customs. Tim, was in Sri Lanka for a prolonged period of three months trying to free the shipment from the country’s border, which he said only seemed possible through financial contributions.
“It was a very stressful time because being a charity we run on minimal costs and in the end it led to me paying £750 out of my own pocket.”
Quite an expensive donation but well worth it when one sees the joy of the youngsters as their eyes light up and they have the chance to learn to surf.The boards are crucial to Sri Lankan surfing communities to give talented surfers the opportunity to improve and for the the little ones to learn. The majority of the surfboards have now been distributed around the island. More will be handed out on Tim’s next visit to a few more obscure places that he was unable to get to this time.
The trip has been exhausting and traumatic. Emotions have run high, and tears have been shed. Frustration has been evident, both from Tim, himself, and the surfers of Sri Lanka. They have been upset that their fellow countrymen have caused so much disruption both through bureaucratic nonsense, corruption and jealousy.
What one could describe as a nightmare, it has been a success. One can see from the photos, whether it is Geeva, a young female Sri Lankan teenager learning to surf, or Asanka, Sri Lanka’s Number one surfer, or Chumphikha who doesn’t surf but enjoys the vibe, that all the blood, sweat and tears are worth it.
Tim said that developing the deprived country’s natural asset of great surfing conditions is an obvious way of building a sustainable economy for those providing surfing lessons and equipment hire.
The surfers in Arugam Bay are now able to use the soft top surfboards to run surf lessons for both tourists and for the younger children in the community. This enables them to earn a salary and to give back something to their community. They are now fortunate to have an office to use as a base, and where they can take bookings for lessons, store surfboards and inform tourists of where and when to surf.
Chumphikha . . . . . . loves the vibe
We, Paddle4Relief, have been instrumental in empowering the young surfers of Arugam Bay to realise the potential of their sport and in taking responsibility for their environment, their playground. They have previously realised the need to carry out Beach Cleans, and they are presently involved in establishing a working committee with other organisations and officers within the community to develop a sustainable programme where they can protect their environment.
Asanka . . . . . Sri Lanka's Number 1 surfer
The support from the North Devon Community, the Sri Lanka Surfing Community, Christian Surfers UK, Surf Relief UK, Tiki Surf International, Fluid Juice, Constantine Surf, Croyde Surf Life Saving Club and the team of friends that support Tim at Paddle4Relief have made this possible. Special thanks must go to Phil Williams of Christian Surfers UK for his continued committment to the surfers in Sri Lanka and his ability to provide both spiritual and financial support.
It is still hard to put the experience into words. Tim explained that he been at a very low ebb on number of occasions throughout the episode and yet he says
“there is the enormous satisfaction that we stuck by our committment and came out the other side”
Realisation is that it did cost a lot more money than expected. Money that the charity, P4R, didn’t have. So somehow P4R need to raise more at this years event in August to rebalance the accounts. It has taken a lot of energy but it has brought something to others that money cannot buy . . . . . . . . . it has given them opportunity, hope, enjoyment and realisation that they are not alone. That complete strangers from around the world, care, care enough to help, to sacrifice, and hopefully this humanity will continue with them, through their lives.
Arugam Bay Surf Club
Now the focus is on getting a Surf Instructor out to Sri Lanka to enable the young surfers to gain a recognised Surf Instructors Qualification.
The quest is never ending it seems. So the plan is to recharge the batteries and gather everyone together to continue the quest.
So, if anyone, or any business, would like to help in any way what so ever then please contact tim@paddle4relief.co.uk
Or, if there is a qualified Surf Instructor that can head out to Sri Lanka and train the young surfers to achieve a recognised Surf Instructors Qualification then please contact Tim. There is funding for a flight ticket, transfers, accommodation and possibly meals for such a person.
We desperately need funding for this years event on Sunday August 21st. We need sponsors for the event t-shirts and hoodies. We are also looking for prizes for the Paddle Race and Fancy Dress Surf Competition, let alone the raffle and tombola.
Many thanks again to all those that have supported and continue to support P4R.
So while i’m busy packing surfboards to sea freight to Sri Lanka, the British weather decides to put a spanner in the works!
Well, it’ll take more than the loss of render and a few bricks to stop the latest Paddle4Relief Project.
Barnstaple builder, Steve Bailey, will be doing what he does best when he is not fishing! Steve, who spent a month in Sri Lanka a few years back, carrying out building work at the local Pre-school, is always the first port of call for any building work. His twenty plus years of being in the trade are irreplaceable. He, and his trusty labourer, Mark, are a truely grafting combination and will have the house fully repaired in no time at all.
So, whilst Steve and Mark look after my house’s needs i will continue to concentrate on freighting around forty surfboards, bodyboards, SUP’s and surf rescue boards have been individually boxed by yours truely!
The boards will go to Arugam Bay Surf Club, Madiha Surf Club and the newly formed West Coast Surf Club to help the development of surfing in Sri Lanka.
If you have any unused, unwanted, old or broken surf equipment that you would like to donate to the young surfers of Sri Lanka then please email me.
Another shipment will be planned for later this year or early next year.
Fluid Juice Surfboards
(. . . . . and that man Adrian Phillips!)
Fluid Juice Surfboards & Arugam Bay Surf Club
Paddle4Relief Founder, Tim Tanton, headed across the border, to Cornwall, to find another true gent of a man, Adrian Phillips. Adrian has been monumental in helping Tim provide the top surfers in Arugam Bay with competition level surfboards. Tim picked up three surfboards only hours before his last trip to the tropical isle, earlier this summer, and whilst Tim was out there, Adrian sent a further three more out with some of the crew who were competing in the UK Pro Tour Event. The boards were a donation to the surfers of Arugam Bay who had been proving their surfing skills to Tim for some years. With the ASP WQS 6 Star and UK Pro Surf Tour Events in Arugam Bay this summer, there was a need for the local talent to have some quality boards to help them with their quest against some of the worlds finest surfing talent. Both the Sri Lankan Wild cards for the main WQS Event were Arugam bay surfers using Paddle4Relief donated surfboards. Adrian, whose step son, Toby Donachie, is one of the UK’s finest surfing talents, and for the second year running, was out in Abay competing in the UK Pro Surf Tour Champion of Champions contest, also provided the Arugam Bay surfers with a handful of leashes as well. Tim cannot thank Adrian enough for his speedy response to the young Arugam Bay surfers needs. And to cap it all, Adrian had to suffer his Paypal account being suspended. Tim’s payment from Sri Lanka had been flagged up as a possible security breach! Fortunately for Adrian, and for Tim, the internet access in Arugam Bay was on a good run and Tim was able to access his emails daily. He soon picked up the distress email from Adrian, and was on the phone to Paypal quick smart, even with being put on hold and running out of credit on two occasions! Thanks must also go to the surfboard mules, Toby Donachie, Tony Plant, Dave Renyard and Phil Williams.
Appledore School (In celebration of Mrs Freeman from Appledore School)
Paddle4Relief would like to say a huge thank to the staff and children at Appledore School for their very kind donation of £228, which funded the restoration of a polluted and disused well in the village of Komari, Sri Lanka.
What started as an email enquiry to P4R Founder, Tim Tanton, from Emma Dennis (Parent Governer) and Annemarie Bettiss (School Bursar) resulted in nine Hindu families benefiting from a well providing them with safe drinking water. The well also provides the families with water for cooking, washing and general chores.
Previously Disused Well.
The donation was a result of the children from the school raising the money and deciding that they wanted to build a well, as a thank you to Mrs Freeman, the schools Head Mistress, who was leaving the school after fourteen years of service. They wanted something in which to remember her by, and for her to remember them.The well, situated on the eastern side of the village, close to the beach, has seen thirty-five villagers including fifteen children and six elders, benefit from the completion of the project.
Komari is situated approximately 20km’s north of the popular surfing destination of Arugam Bay, on the south-east coast of Sri Lanka. It is an extremely poor area with the average wage less than $2 a day. The community are primarily involved in farming and fishing.
The village was totally destroyed in the 2004 Asian Tsunami with only the church left standing. It is also an area that was severely affected by the civil war, and an area that was not safe to be out in during the hours of darkness during that time.
Now it is a place where recovery has been slow. Paddle4relief had researched the area and found that there were two wells that could be renovated.
Komari Community Social Well
The donation enabled P4R to increase the height of the well by more than a metre, and build a wide apron around the well, with a run off to ensure that waste water does not run/drain directly back into the clean well water. The interior of the well was re-rendered and the well itself pumped out and cleaned.
The second well was funded by Paddle4Relief. It is located on the west side of the village and now provides fifteen Hindu families with safe drinking water. Of the fourty-seven individuals making up the families, twenty-three are children and nine are elders. They again are predominantly involved in fishing and farming.
Massive thanks must go to Mark Brindle and the team at Maniac Films for having the patience to endure trawling through six years of P4R video footage! Special thanks must go to Steph Palmer for being the main editor of this project and to Stu Gaunt for the final edit.
Hopefully you will all find some identity in what we do as a team at P4R. It is not just about those that volunteer or serve on the committee but of those that put themselves out and offer their professional skills and services, like the team at Maniac Films. So, if you need something doing in the film and website media market then look no further than the small but beautiful formed team in Croyde! Or, if you want to get involved in P4R and what we do in Sri Lanka, then please contact Tim. Mark and his team have been awesome supporters and providers for P4R since our conception. Many thanks guys n gals.
Paddle4Relief continue to promote the surfing talent of Sri Lanka. In particular P4R provide support, advice and sponsorship to the Arugam Bay Surf Club and it’s talented members. 2009 saw young surfer, Milan, show off his potential during the UK Pro Surf Tour Champion of Champions competition. Milan initially showed off his natural talent as a junior in 2005/2006.
Here we can see Milan trying out the 5′10″ Rusty Aido given to him by P4R Founder, Tim Tanton.
Milan still has a little way to go before he can overcome the super talented Asanka - Sri Lanka’s No.1 surfer.
Arugam Bay’s other top surfers Sril and Pranith complete the villages top four, but keep an eye out for the up and coming talent of Atha. These young surfers will be putting their skills to the test during the WQS Sri Lanka Trials Event to be held on 16th/17th June 2010, ahead of the WQS 6 Star Main Event that starts on 18th June. The trials event will determine the top 8 surfers from Sri Lanka, who will go thro to compete on Day 1 of the main WQS event to establish Sri Lanka’s 2 Wild card entries.
Some of you may never have been on Facebook! There are times when i wish i never had! There is a reason for being on it - networking!
Today, that networking brought me to a stand still! A stand still that had me blabbing like a baby! Yep, Sri Lanka breaks me! It brings me to my knees and tears my heart open time and time again! With all its warts I am still drawn to it - the beauty, the innocence and tranquility, the power and grace of mother nature in this far off land.
Be sure that i am in this for the long haul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .probably to my death!
To Pete Robinson - Thank you for reminding me why i do it!
Support your local….
Today at 09:03 on Tuesday March 16th 2010
On May 30th this year there’s a charity paddle from Saunton to Croyde and back to raise funds for the forgotten victims in Sri Lanka of the devastating 2004 tsunami.
It’s run by local North Devon lad Tim Tanton who is one of British surfing’s remarkable characters.
By day a psychiatric nurse (full-on, huh?), and in his ’spare’ time keeps on pushing to raise much needed funds to help people rebuild their lives around the world class right hand point break at Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s east coast.
Tim goes out there every year to help with projects such as building fresh water wells, and now teaching the local kids to swim & get into surfing (and form their own national federation).
Check out - http://www.paddle4relief.co.uk
Paddle your heart out for Sri Lanka - poster by Rob Tibbles
You may wonder why, six years on, help is still needed - especially after such a massive international aid effort.
The answer is an awkward truth. Sadly much of that aid never made it to the people who needed it. And worse - allegations of land-grabs and scare tactics to move locals away from the coast and their lives as fishermen, only for the coastal land to be sold off to foreign developers.
As for the international community, sadly there’s always another disaster - Haiti, Chile - and so after an initial push it can be the case that the ‘foreign help’ soon moves on, and the public forgets as the media shifts its attention elsewhere.
But not with Tim and his volunteers, who have built a special bond with the Sri Lankan locals - this little charity is not just helping them rebuild after the tsunami (yes, it’s still needed), they’re helping them improve their lives in subtle, natural ways.
Yours truly surfing Sri Lanka 2005 - 1 year after the tsunami (Photo by Bee)
A year after the tsunami my wife and I travelled to Sri Lanka and saw first hand how little had been done by 2005 to help those who survived the devastation. We were shocked to see people still living in tents by the side of the road in makeshift villages, and talking to locals it seemed the Government just didn’t care.
We were shown nothing but friendship and smiles by a people who had been to hell and back.
The Museum of British Surfing has donated some t-shirts to take out to the Sri Lankan ‘groms’ and we’re working on a few ideas to help further.
I would urge you to support Tim, his volunteers and the Paddle4Relief charity - make a donation or enter the paddle on May 30th if you can.
You can see where the money’s going, and it is making a real difference to people’s lives.
Thursday, January 28, 2010, 07:00
Comment on this story
A FORMER Torrington mayor is urging North Devonians to buy and name water wells in Sri-Lanka.
Journal columnist, Anne Tattersall, who writes Tatt’s Life was inspired by one of her subjects Braunton’s Tim Tanton who set up Paddle4Relief to help Sri-Lankan victims of the for Tsuanmi.
Tim told her it cost just £50 to build a well to get a whole village fresh water and Anne subsequently donated enough for a well.
Anne decided to call the well, which is now up and running, Mandela, after Nelson for his work in fighting poverty.
She said: “I was so impressed it only costs £50 to bring fresh water to a village and I think would be great if we could get a few more Devonians to donate £50 and have a well named.”
Paddle4Relief works in the Arugam Bay area of Sri Lanka and for more information and to make a donation visit www.paddle4relief.co.uk.
The first Paddle4Relief fund raiser of 2010 was organised by Jill Jewell and held in Bratton Fleming, at the Village Hall. A fantastic £321.00 was raised for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake disaster and the forgotten victims of the 2004 Asian Tsunami in Sri Lanka.
Paddle4Relief would like to say a huge thank you to Jill and Lynn Bawden (scoring), John Huxtable (compare), Brian Williams (Scoreboard), and the rest of the team involved in organising and running the fun filled evening. Special thanks to Chris Lilley, Jill and Shan who worked hard in the kitchen to provide the enjoyable light supper that was enjoyed during the interval.
Many thanks must go to all those who participated in the quiz, and who also willingly purchased raffle tickets, t-shirts and hoodies, as well as making considerable donations to the collection pot.
The Paddle4Relief Team of three that entered the quiz, showed courage in their performance of coming last! Congratulations to Team K for their win and to Team H for winning the Interval Quiz.
John Huxtable – compare for the night.
P4R Team members; Emms and Angie.
The surfers of Arugam Bay, members of the Arugam Bay Surf Club, have managed to fund a project where they took the initiative and made and erected signs for their beach. Since the end of the civil war, back in May 2009, the beach in Arugam Bay has seen countless more visitors, and with it, rubbish! The young surfers are very much aware of the importance of protecting their natural playground. The sea and beach is not just a playground though, its a way of life, its where they fish to earn the money to support their families.
So with the help of travelling surfers and Paddle4Relief, the boys raised enough money to purchase materials to make four signs. The local surfers were concerned at the state of the beach and the effect the rubbish was having on their environment.
Fawas, Chairman of Arugam Bay Surf Club and Krishantha, Secretary, built the signs whilst myself, Leah, Erandathi and Fawas carried out the artwork in three languages; Sinhalese, English and Tamil.
Now there is no excuse for people to throw their rubbish on or around the beach area. The signs are clearly there to inform visitors that their rubbish is not wanted.
The local Special Task Force and Tourist Association have also acted on the problem and got involved. They have provided bins and more signs.
I personally, am very happy at seeing this initiative develop. From back in 2005 when we were involved in the first village clean there has been a slow but progressive movement towards keeping the village and beach clear of rubbish. The young surfers in particular appear to be at the forefront of this movement and are fully supported by the Paddle4Relief Team. Their focus reflects the focus of Paddle4Relief in its determination to protect our beautiful environment. Beach cleans are an important initiative in the fight against pollution.
(Photographs are courtesy and copyright of Paddle4Relief and Aiya Surf Photography)
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