Surfathon raises money for charity project

George Thorpe & Andy Birkett
BBC News, Devon
BBC A surfing instructor wearing a red shirt and a black wetsuit stands on a blue surfboard and shows several people show surfing techniques on Croyde beach.BBC
Instructors and volunteers helped show people of all abilities how to surf during the 12-hour event

Surfers have taken to the waves for a 12-hour event on a North Devon beach to raise money for a charity project.

Surf therapy charity The Wave Project hosted its Inclusive Surfathon at Croyde beach on Friday to fundraise for its adaptive surfing programme, which provides opportunities for people with physical disabilities to try the sport.

During the day instructors and volunteers offered support to surfers.

Ian Bennett, inclusive lead at the charity, said there had been a lot of planning for the event and the end result was "amazing".

Mr Bennett said more than 30 volunteers had helped about 20 surfers who had visited from across the country during the surfathon.

The 2024 BBC South West Unsung Hero award winner added he hoped the event would be a showcase for the importance of the adaptive surfing programme.

"It's so difficult to access the ocean for someone with a physical disability", he said.

"It's an expensive sport for us to enable more access to more people, but breaking down these barriers and raising that money to help that happen, that's what it's all about."

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