Rapids Landing Primary School student Luna Thomas raising funds for SurfAid’s #makeawavechallenge

One of the region’s youngest gun surfers is raising money for charity SurfAid, with her family urging residents to get behind her efforts before the month’s end.

Luna Rose Thomas, 8, has surfed every day in September as part of a fundraising drive for the charity which helps remote communities in international surfing destinations.

She started her month-long run as part of SurfAid’s #makeawavechallenge and has a fundraising page which needs more local support.

“When you support my fundraising you give people in remote communities connected to us through surfing a hand up rather than a handout,” she told the Times.

The Rapids Landing Primary School student started surfing at age 5 and counts Bethany Hamilton as one of her idols.

She hoped to make it to the professional circuit one day and was not afraid of big waves.

“I love surfing, but most importantly it is to raise money for people in need and people that are less fortunate than myself,” Luna said.

“When I am in the ocean I feel calm and relaxed and nothing else in the world has any problems. Everything is still and in the moment.”

Luna was one of the Cowaramup Bay Boardrider Club’s youngest members and also a card-carrying member of the local Salty Sisters group.

She said she was driven to support SurfAid out of a desire to help communities in places where big wave surfers often travelled off the beaten track, rather than more well-known destinations where tourism was already thriving.

“SurfAid specialise in working in very isolated villages where the maternal and child mortality rates are some of the highest in the world,” she said.

“With your support, we can give families the best chance of getting ahead by providing access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation and improved nutrition.

“Sometimes people travel to these places and enjoy what they have to offer, but don’t give anything back,” she said.

“I’m glad I am raising money for SurfAid to help people and families.”

Her big focus was on remote locations in rural Indonesia, but she hoped to travel one day to surf Hawaii and the Mentawais.

Her biggest hope was the money raised through her efforts this month would help communities maintain clean drinking water, sanitation and medical care.

To get involved, visit makeawave.co/lunarosethomas.