Divers motorbike around Australia for a good cause!

The 50+-day journey will connect Allan Nash and Tommy Soderstrom with dive industry and divers around Australia in support of street children and marine conservation. Join us on Sunday 18 September 2011 at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour to support both these worthy causes.

Puerto Gallera, Philippines. Two dive professionals and bike enthusiasts will ride all around Australia on two wheels starting from August 2011 to raise funds for charity. Allan Nash and Tommy Soderstrom, both PADI instructors and owners of Asia Divers and El Galleon Dive Resort in the Philippines, have hatched an action-packed fund-raising scheme supported by PADI, Project Aware and the Springboard Foundation.

Aussie Fundraiser is being organised to raise money for Project Aware and Springboard Foundation in a bid to stop marine environmental crises such as ocean debris and provide street children with renewed hope.

“For years we have been a supporter of the Springboard foundation that helps real people in need. Some of the homeless children have been abandoned from the age of two, others disabled, with no place to go, no hope, lost and lonely,” said Allan Nash.  “Such kids look for every opportunity in life and given half a chance will take whatever they can get, sometimes with devastating consequences. Springboard and its supporters gives them viable choices, helps them become respectable people,” he added.

The ride circumnavigating Australia on BMW 1200GS will start and end at Sydney, with stopovers at these cities for meaningful interaction with dive communities: Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Exmouth, Caines and Brisbane. On Sunday 9th of October 2011, the duo will make a special appearance at ODEX in Brisbane by riding to the hall, giving a talk and conducting a raffles draw.

Perth Scuba will host the biker duo during the ‘Dive Day’ stopover in Perth on Sunday 18th September with a beach cleanup, leisure dives followed by a BBQ where a bronze dollar donation will be collected from all participants with F&B purchase. The Ocean Cleanup dive will be located at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour. There will be attractive prizes to be won from top brands such as Waterproof, Cressi, DAN, and a week’s stay with unlimited dives at El Galleon Dive Resort and Asia Divers in the Philippines.

Perth Scuba welcomes all volunteers who would like to participate in the ocean cleanup. Please contact [email protected] to let us know you'll be there. We'll send you full details by email of what you can do to help. Remember, non-divers are welcome too!!!

Well-wishers can donate a lump sum or a specific amount (e.g. five or ten cents) for each leg of the distance covered (see sector chart) if not the entire 14,000 km of the journey.

Aussie Fundraisers seeks the support of dive centres, dive equipment manufacturers and scuba divers by way of donations and sponsorships. Dive centers can pledge their support in exchange for logo acknowledgement starting with $50 while manufacturers can sponsor cash towards the cause and/or in kinds for prize giveaways during the BBQ raffles draw. Confirmed sponsors are PADI, Cressi Sub, Waterproof, Asia Divers and El Galleon Dive Resort.

“No money raised will go towards subsidizing the cost of this ride,” said Allan Nash.  “All money raised will be donated to Project Aware and Springboard Foundation. Both act for the betterment of people and the environment, so please help by showing your support.” The cost of the ride and logistics is estimated to be around $22,000, which will be borne entirely by Asia Divers and El Galleon.

The duo will blog their experiences on Aussie Fundraiser web (http://aussiefundraiser.org), Facebook page in addition to publicity support from PADI and Project Aware.

Notes

The Springboard Foundation supports street children. http://www.springboard-foundation.org/

Project Aware is PADI’s dedicated organization on education and action for the conservation of marine environment. http://www.projectaware.org/