A young Tofitian surfer is inviting the West Coast to a philanthropic Fathers Day Brunch at Tofino’s Shelter Restaurant this weekend.
Reed Platenius, an 11 year-old lifelong local and two-time winner of Canada’s national Under-12 surfing championships, is harnessing the power of his surf fame to bring clean water to people who need it.
“I was scrolling through Instagram and one of my sponsors, Hurley, posted a photo (and) tagged Waves 4 Water. I started scrolling through that and I really got interested in it,†Platenius told the Westerly News.
“I just feel like you have to give back; it’s just a nice thing to do.â€
Waves for Water is aimed at bringing filtration systems to areas in need of clean drinking water.
“The goal is to take existing solutions in the form of portable water filters into countries that need them...With these filters, dirty water becomes instantly clean—and drinkable. Lives are saved.†according to Waves 4 Water’s website.
“Waves 4 Water has teamed up with surf company Hurley International to develop a DIY volunteer program called Clean Water Couriers, in which surfers in searching for waves in third-world countries carry filters with them in their luggage. Pack a few filters in your suitcase and either connect with local non-profits in that area or personally travel
to villages to set them up yourself.â€
Through the program, filtration systems have been set up in Haiti, Indonesia, Bali, Pakistan, Samoa, and Chile and anyone seeking more information is encouraged to check out www.wavesforwater.org.
Platenius’ goal is to raise $5,000 by September and he is confident the West Coast will get behind his efforts.
“I’m really excited to do this,†he said.
“I think people will be really interested in it. We have a lot of water (on the West Coast) and I think most people are pretty thankful of that and I think people will be interested to know about places with no water.â€
Platenius said his surfing sponsorships have helped swell his giving tide.
“It has helped a lot. Without my sponsors it would be way harder,†he said.
His first major fundraiser will land this Sunday at a Father’s Day Brunch being held at Tofino’s Shelter Restaurant, another of Platenius’ sponsors.
Platenius is also planning a Paddleboard Dodgeball Contest based on a suggestion from his sponsors at Storm Surf Shop.
Andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca