Fundraising fun

We hear about all the innovative ways that people have raised funds for Surfers Against Sewage this year.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is a charity based in Cornwall that’s working to raise awareness and collaborate with communities to reduce plastic pollution. The charity has successfully campaigned for new legislation such as the 5p plastic bag charge and the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers to help combat the plague of single-use plastics.

“We challenge you to take on a single-use-plastic-free lifestyle for a month to raise funds and help create plastic free coastlines”

Community and Events Fundraising Officer, Katie Eddy tells us: “Every year we rely on incredible people to do incredible things to help raise money for our charity. We’ve seen everything from paddleboarding around the whole of Wales, to running marathons; from organising bake sales to hosting movie nights.” Each fundraising event helps to support the efforts of the charity and goes towards making our coastlines cleaner, raising awareness and continuing the charity’s mission to protect
our environment.

Katie tells us about some of the fundraising events that have taken place this year, she explains: “We’ve had so many great events this year, from Louise Tremewan taking on the Croyde Ocean Triathlon in the hottest weather of the year and raising an incredible £1,155, to the ‘SAS Does Strictly’ event that raised over £10,000! Then there are our young supporters, Dylan, Carys, Olive and Ruben, who have taken on the Tuff Nutt obstacle course two years running, raising a fantastic £800.” There are loads of fun ways to get involved and help support the SAS mission, and if you’ve been inspired, then the team is always on hand to help and provide guidance.

As a small charity, SAS relies on the support of individuals, just like you, to support its work. Donations go towards: educating the next generation, supporting 75,000 volunteers to clean up local beaches, inspiring over 300 towns and cities to become Plastic Free Communites, and training and equipping talented Regional Reps to deliver marine environmental messages all over the UK.

A new form of fundraising that SAS has just initiated is Plastic Free Fundraising. Katie explains: “Avoidable single-use plastics are strangling our shores and it will take a huge team effort to tackle it. We challenge you to take on a single-use-plastic-free lifestyle for a month to raise funds and help create plastic free coastlines.” Going single-use-plastic-free will open your eyes and those of your family and friends to how much disposable (and yet indestructible) plastic is wasted every day, and how small changes – such as choosing a bamboo toothbrush over a plastic one – can make a massive difference to the amount of plastic waste produced each year.