Pro Surfer Luke Thompson Launches GoFundMe to Send Surfers Not Street Children Kids to World Champs

WSL Championship Tour surfer Luke Thompson has launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund travel and competition costs for young athletes from the Surfers Not Street Children program. The athletes have earned selection to represent the Eastern Surfing Association at the SA Champs and have been chosen to represent South Africa at the ISA World Surfing Games.

The fundraising effort aims to remove financial barriers for vulnerable youth in Durban who have qualified for these high-level competitions. Thompson, who grew up surfing alongside these athletes after moving to Durban at age 10, is calling on the surf community to provide the necessary funding to ensure the team can compete for a South African title and on the world stage.

The Surfers Not Street Children program provides an alternative to street life for vulnerable youth in Durban through surfing. The initiative has previously received recognition and support from Prince William, the Pope, and Kelly Slater.

Funding for SA Champs and ISA World Surfing Games

The current campaign specifically targets the costs associated with two major events: the SA Champs and the ISA World Surfing Games. The selected surfers will represent the Eastern Surfing Association during the national championships, where they will compete for a South African title.

Beyond national competition, the athletes have also secured spots to represent South Africa internationally at the ISA World Surfing Games. Thompson stated in his campaign that the goal is to give these surfers the opportunity to chase their dreams, noting that any contribution would make a difference for the young athletes.

The fundraiser is hosted on GoFundMe, with the donation link available via Thompson’s social media biography.

Luke Thompson’s Connection to the Program

Thompson’s involvement with the program is rooted in his time spent on the Durban beachfront. After relocating to the city at age 10, he spent several years surfing in the same waters as the participants of the Surfers Not Street Children program, witnessing the athletes’ development firsthand.

Now a competitor on the WSL Championship Tour, Thompson is leveraging his professional platform to support the transition of these athletes from a community empowerment program to professional-level competition.

The program’s objective is to provide stability and opportunity for youth who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness. The selection of these athletes for the ISA World Surfing Games marks a milestone in the program’s goal of moving participants from the streets to international sporting representation.