SYDNEY -- On Friday morning, more than 200 surfers dressed in fluorescent clothing rose early and headed for their nearest beach.
In a show of support for World Mental Health day, not-for-profit organisation OneWave was behind the world's longest fluro wave at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Fluro is the Aussie slang term for fluorescent.
Participants were asked to wear bright clothes and hold hands on the shoreline before taking to their ride of choice and enjoying a wave. The results were magical as the sun rose over the famous beach.
The company started with the concept Fluro Fridays, a weekly event where surfers at beaches along the east coast of Australia dress up and go for a surf to support mental illness. Bondi locals Grant Trebilco, 33, and Sam Schumacher, 27, founded the company in February 2013 during a meeting in the surf.
"We starting dressing in ridiculous fluro outfits every Friday morning to raise awareness for mental health and Fluro Fridays were born," Trebilco told Mashable. "Me and my good mate Sam wanted to share this simple recipe of saltwater, surfing and good mates to help people tackle mental health issues and we launched OneWave."
Joined in #flurofriday at Bondi for World Mental Health day. Blokes who started it very inspiring. pic.twitter.com/bp3FeCpcv8— Trent Murray (@trent_murray) October 9, 2014
Trebilco suffers from bipolar disorder and through struggles in his own life wanted to reach out and help others in a different way.
"I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 years ago. It was surfing and talking about it with my mates that got me through the funk. Catching one good wave would give me hope that things would get better," Trebilco said.
The friends are stoked at "how many legends there are that are keen to support people going through mental health issues and kick the stigma behind it being a taboo topic."
From humble beginnings of Tribelco riding solo in the surf in Bondi, to the movement being embraced from Australia to Hawaii, OneWave is making big waves by raising awareness and giving sufferers hope along the way.
