A local undertaker sold Stephen Thomson a hearse for a dollar. It is now bright blue, covered in sponsor logos and full of surfboards, and has become one of the most recognised symbols of Surfing for Farmers.

The undertaker had one condition, says Thomson, founder and chairman of Surfing for Farmers. He wanted a sticker on it that read ‘get in the surf, not in the hearse.’

“He was pretty sick of picking up people who had taken their lives due to suicide. 

“So he gave us his hearse, and we’ve taken a pretty average yarn and turned it into a bright, happy sort of thing and made it all about a positive story and a positive place to go.”

The charity now runs across 25 beaches from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South, Thomson says, operating from late October through to early April. Participation has grown again this season without any new locations being added.

“We’re just stoked to be operating, and people want to keep coming because it shows that what we’re doing is helping people.”

The growth has come with more structure behind it. Surfing for Farmers now has a board of seven and a general manager, Thomson says. New beaches can be added and organised without starting from scratch.

A national coordinator conference is coming in June, bringing together coordinators from around the country for a weekend. Thomson says announcements about the charity’s future direction will be made there.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.