On Saturday 9th July Sub-Mission Dive Club in the UK organised a charity Fin-athon called Fin4Finning. Divers were targeted with completing 100,000,000 millimetres in mask and fins collectively, swimming from 8 am until 10 pm. The aim of the event was to raise vital cash for shark conservation charities, Project AWARE and the Shark Trust but more importantly to raise awareness of the decreasing shark populations due to the pressure of shark finning.

PADI Course Director, Katy Bloor who coordinated the event, reports on this fantastic fundraising event:

"The 100,000,000 mm was a significant target as research suggests that this is the number of sharks killed each year for their fins to make Shark Fin Soup. Although shark fin soup is a delicacy in many eastern cultures, the fin actually adds no taste to the soup but due to its reverence makes this delicacy an expensive symbol of status therefore increasing its demand. Over 70 people turned up to get involved in the swim, many more than expected. Having so many people participate meant that the target was hit by 4 pm, although people just kept on swimming!"

The total raised from this inspiring event raised a whooping £2555,08 in pennies and pounds! Fourth Element helped massively by designing some amazing T-shirts for the event so that profits from the t-shirt sales could be put to the charities.

Even Finn, Project AWARE's new ambassador on a mission to spread the word that sharks need urgent protection, took part in this well-attended shark awareness and fundraising event contributing a few swimming lanes to the overall challenge.

A great effort was made by all involved and it was a fantastic success. From all of us at Project AWARE THANK YOU Sub-Mission!

Watch out for Fin4Finning 2012!