Joel from @wavesforwellness dropped by Sanbah last week to grab some surf essentials, and a bunch of boards donated by our customers to go to surf charities for their mental health surf therapy program that headed to Mallacoota after the devastating bushfires. WOW loaded up a truck full of donated boards and made the long drive down the coast to Mallacoota early February to bring their life-changing surf therapy program to the people of the town. Such an amazing initiative, well done guys 🙌
Waves of Wellness Foundation:
“WOW is a mental health charity using surf therapy to support and promote positive mental health and wellbeing. WOW’s learn-to-surf program incorporates surfing with mental health education and connection, and is run by qualified mental health professionals who double as surfing instructors. The program brings together people to better understand how they can manage and maintain their mental health during this time.
This program hopes to decrease the impacts of trauma and PTSD on the town and community, whereby the team of specialised therapists will aim to prevent and manage ongoing mental health and trauma symptoms. For others, simply connecting, sharing stories and uniting during this time can make all the difference. The program will support the residents in reclaiming their beach, reframing its recent correlation with trauma, to a place of positivity and respite/leisure.
The Mallacoota community is calling out for visitors to come and spend in the area, on all things including supermarkets, restaurants and accommodation etc. The WOW team will stay in local accommodation and support the ‘empty esky’ campaign to help the community’s tourism economy get back on track.
In addition to homes and prized possessions, countless surfers and families that have lost all of their surfing equipment in this catastrophic event. This may not seem important for some, but Mallacoota is an ocean community. Returning bushfire
victims to the water will be instrumental in the healing process.
Respite and joy become essential on the road to recovery.” - WOW
