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Premier Chris Minns will chip in $15,000 to Blake Johnston’s mental health fundraiser, after the former professional surfer broke the world record for the world’s longest surf in Sydney last month.
Minns, a keen surfer himself, will meet Johnston at Cronulla on Sunday to make the donation to the Chumpy Pullin Foundation from the Premier’s Discretionary Fund.
Winter Olympics athlete Alex “Chumpy” Pullin died in 2020. Credit: Getty
Johnston spent 40 hours and 7 minutes out on the water on March 16, catching 707 waves and eclipsing the previous world record by about 10 hours.
Initially with a goal of raising $250,000 for youth mental health initiatives and suicide prevention through the foundation, Johnston has since raised his goal to $707,000 after his world record attempt gained international media attention.
By Saturday evening, he had raised $422,000.
“Blake’s feat last month was phenomenal, both physically and mentally. I don’t mind going for a surf, but there is no way I could stay out there anywhere near as long as Blake did,” Minns said.
“I’m proud to be able to say a big thank you, on behalf of the people of NSW.”
Alex “Chumpy” Pullin was a snowboarder who competed at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics.
He drowned in 2020 while understood to be spearfishing on the Gold Coast.
He was survived by his partner, Ellidy, and 15 months after his death, his daughter, Minnie, who was conceived using IVF after Pullin’s family conducted a post-mortem sperm retrieval.
Ellidy launched the Chumpy Pullin Foundation in his memory last year. The foundation has wide aims, including raising funds for youth development of Australian snow sports, as well as youth mental health and the protection of the natural environment.
“What Blake has done is nothing short of an amazing feat of physical endurance and willpower, but the awareness and funds he raised for mental health are just as significant,” said Sports Minister Steve Kamper.
“I hope Blake has now fully recovered from his world-record breaking effort and look forward to seeing what incredible things he and the Chumpy Pullin Foundation do next.”
The Premier’s Discretionary Fund provides small-scale grants to community organisations.
It attracted attention in December when then premier Dominic Perrottet was forced to defend a series of donations made from the fund to a charity run by controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.
Teo’s foundation received a total of $125,000 from the fund.
A disclaimer on the website listing grant recipients for 2022-23 reads: “Please note that this grant information is from the previous government and is in the process of being reviewed and updated.”
It is not Minns’ first use of the fund. The newly elected premier donated $50,000 to the Vinnies CEO Sleepout earlier this month, announcing his intention to become the first NSW premier to take part in the charity event when it is held on June 22.
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