Launched by Billabong South Africa, there are collection bins set up in all coastal Billabong stores across South Africa where surfers can drop off their old wetsuits. In return, they qualify for a 20% discount off any new Billabong suit. The old wetsuits are then collected, sorted and distributed to a number of recognised surf outreach programs that the company currently supports including Surf Shack, Aleph and Christian Surfers.
Chad D'Arcy, marketing manager for Billabong said, "This is the first year we're running this campaign and so far the response has been fantastic. We launched the initiative at our first Junior Series event in Mossel Bay in April and to date we have had over 50 wetsuits donated through our stores. It is a great way for surfers to give back and to help less fortunate kids share in the stoke of riding waves. We are aiming to do our first handover in July and keep the campaign running through our stores indefinitely."
Rehgert Van Zyl, founder & director of Aleph Surfing Foundation said, "It's great to see a company connecting the dots and channelling wetsuits to people who do not have the same access to resources. As an organisation, we can then share and send wetsuits where they are needed and appreciated. What a way to make surfers from either ends of the scale be part of the same process of sharing in the stoke. I would encourage people to make use of this opportunity presented by Billabong and be intentional with giving and receiving. Aleph Surf International is honoured to steward these suits and make a lot of surfers and other projects very happy."
