A TORQUAY surfer is doing it for cancer victims that have lost their opportunity to surf, when he hits the water every day this month to raise money for important research.<\/p>\n
Custom surfboard shaper Michael van der Klooster, better known as Vanda at local breaks, is participating in SurFebruary \u2013 a charity started by a cancer survivor that raises money for Sydney cancer treatment centre Chris O\u2019Brien Lifehouse.<\/p>\n
SurFebruary encourages Australians to catch a wave a day throughout February, while inviting donations to support the centre\u2019s research.<\/p>\n
Mr van der Klooster rarely needs added motivation to pack his board during summer, but said this month\u2019s rides would have extra significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the people in hospital who would kill to be out surfing right now, and there\u2019s people that lost their fight who had surfing as their thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surf has been bad, I\u2019ve been out five or six times by myself with Jan Juc beach empty, but I\u2019m there because there\u2019s so many people that would give anything to go for a surf for another day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really makes you appreciate the opportunity even more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like many Australians, the SurFebruary cause is one close to Mr van der Klooster\u2019s heart; with his grandfather, aunty and close family friends all diagnosed with variants of the disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everyone, when you least expect it can be affected by cancer. It\u2019d be hard to find someone that\u2019s not one or two degrees separated from someone having cancer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Torquay boardrider also has a special, coincidental link to the charity; its founder and cancer survivor Jenna-Lee Clark gave birth to a son named Vander at the Lifehouse.<\/p>\n
Mrs Clark has also been a beneficiary of the centre\u2019s vital work, with Vander the first baby delivered at the Lifehouse after a trachelectomy procedure, which is a fertility-preserving method for women with cervical cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow in our fifth year, we\u2019re looking forward to welcoming back past participants and inviting first-timers to immerse themselves in this family-friendly event that celebrates community and raises much-needed funds for cancer research, all while you benefit from the healing nature of the ocean at the same time,\u201d Mrs Clark said.<\/p>\n
The fundraiser has raised $600,000 for the treatment and research centre, and is hoping to reach the $1 million milestone this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A TORQUAY surfer is doing it for cancer victims that have lost their opportunity to surf, when he hits the water every day this month to raise money for important research. Custom surfboard shaper Michael van der Klooster, better known as Vanda at local breaks, is participating in SurFebruary \u2013 a charity started by a […]<\/p>\n