A Mui Ne surfing school owner plans to ride hundreds of kilometers down the Mekong River on a stand-up paddle board to raise awareness about plastic bag pollution in Asia’s waterways and oceans.

Australian surfer and kitesurfer, Rob Kidnie, said he was planning to do the epic paddle anyway, but decided - why not use it to help make Vietnam’s waterways and beaches cleaner for watersports.

“The paddle down the Mekong River is a challenge that I would relish in itself, but I see this as a golden opportunity to raise awareness for the need for cleaner oceans, waterways and beaches,” Kidnie said.

“So I’m trying to get in contact with as many like minded people as I can to help and support with the charity side of things.”

Since receiving great feedback about the paddle that would start in Cambodia to where the river branches meet the South China Sea in Vietnam, Kidnie has started the search for sponsors and an NGO or organization that would be able to use the money raised to clean up marine debris or raise awareness about marine litter.

He said he hoped to generate some interest because stand-up paddle boarding is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world and it was the first time anything like this had been done in the region.

“I would be happy if local people thought twice about throwing rubbish on the ground or in the waterways,” said the Australian about what he hoped to achieve from the paddle.

Kidnie who has been surfing around Asia for eight years and now runs the Kite-n-Surf School in Mui Ne.

“It is a problem that faces the whole world, not just Vietnam,” said Kidnie who will head to Australia to look for sponsors.

The paddle that will go through Chau Doc and Can Tho is planned to start around the beginning of May to last about two weeks.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the paddle against plastic pollution should contact kitensurf@gmail.com.

Source: SGT