We urgently need your support to send our NZ Lifeguards to help Syrian Refugees!

The Syrian refugee crisis in Europe is escalating and there continues to be many tragic drownings of children and families in the waters between Turkey and the Greek Islands.

Like so many New Zealanders, Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving Patrol is compelled to help and decided the best way to make a vital difference for the people of Syria is not only to put feet on the ground and send a team of our highly skilled lifeguards to Greece, but also donate a mission-critical IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat).

The club were motivated by an inspiring initiative carried out by a UK team (Atlantic Pacific International Rescue Boats), who have already donated a boat and provided support to “Lifeguard Hellas”, the Greek operation who also volunteers and exist on donations - http://www.lifeguardhellas.gr/en/.

Our primary role is to stop the tragic drowning of innocent children, women and men and we will be sending our lifeguards to Greece on the 22nd of April. For three weeks they will volunteer their skills and expertise to train local lifeguards on how to effectively use the IRB they are donating. Our lifeguards will also form a crucial part of the rescue operation to help save desperate refugees who will attempt to go by boat along the 4km stretch of Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Lesvos.

The team will also help train the current volunteer units on how to use the donated IRB for continuous support.

The project, expected to take 3 weeks, will be the first New Zealand lifeguard involvement outside our government’s announcement to accept more Syrian refugees into our country.

The anticipated cost of our lifesaving mission between $60 to $70,000 includes flights, freight, accommodation and insurance.

Please come on board with our urgent mission and become a vital part of our RESCUE team. You can help by donating as little or as much as you can – every single $ you give will go directly to helping save hundreds of innocent lives!

The Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving Patrol will provide six of our highly skilled lifeguards to train the Lifeguard Hellas guards in the use of the donated IRB and help get the Syrian refugee people to the safety of the shore.