MR ripping near home. Pic: Bosko

Former world champion surfers are lining up to take on Newcastle’s business community in the Lawler SurfAid Cup at Dixon Park, Merewether, on Friday 22 February. The charity event is part of Surfest Newcastle. Four-time world champion Mark Richards and 1989 world champion Martin Potter will be pulling on the coloured singlet to help raise money for humanitarian organisation SurfAid.

Sixteen teams have entered the SurfAid Cup, with Lawler Financial Services coming on as presenting sponsor. The top fundraisers get to pick a pro surfer to join their team of four surfers in a tag team contest that will be held at Dixon Park, next to the main Surfest site.

“I am stoked to be part of the first Lawler SurfAid Cup in Newcastle,” Mark Richards said. “I have enormous respect for SurfAid for the amazing work they do in remote villages in the islands off Sumatra, Indonesia, especially their education and prevention programs focusing on malaria, water and sanitation, emergency preparedness, and mother and child health issues.

“Lawler Financial Services are to be congratulated for their contribution to this important fundraising and community event,” Richards said.

Martin “Pottz” Potter said he was also very excited about the Lawler SurfAid Cup. “My team had a disappointing show at the SurfAid Cup in Sydney last November, so I’m looking to redeem myself in this event,” Pottz said.

“I’m super stoked to be rubbing shoulders with one of my heroes, Mark Richards, and one of my best friends, Matt Hoy, is also competing. I hope we get some good waves so the boys can show their stuff.”

The 16 fundraising teams that will compete are: City of Newcastle Boardriders, Hunter Readymixed Concrete, Beilby Consulting, BT Financial Group, Bennelong Funds Management, People Fusion, nib health funds, Team Maccas, Team Michilis, Team Mullane, Lawler Financial Services, Lawler Partners, Team Perpetual, Coffey Projects, Bilbie Dan Solicitors and Sanbah Surf.

You can support the teams HERE >>

Chris Davis, the head of wealth protection at Lawler Financial Services, said they were very proud to sponsor the SurfAid Cup in Newcastle.

“A lot of our clients are keen surfers who are in senior management or are successful business owners, and we see this as a great opportunity to link the two together and raise some money for the great cause of SurfAid,” Davis said. “The boys from the Hunter Business Boardriders, who have brought this event to Newcastle, are frothing and can’t wait for the day.”

The Lawler SurfAid Cup will run from 9am – 5pm at Dixon Park on Friday 22 February. The afterparty will be held from 5pm – 7pm at The Beach Hotel, cnr Frederick St and Ridge St, Merewether.