Sydney Skinny nude swim for Charlie Teo charity cancelled
The Sydney Skinny nude swim raised thousands for the Charlie Teo Foundation but the event has been scrapped for next year with the announcement coming after a horror month for the brain surgeon.
Mosman
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The Sydney Skinny nude swim is cancelled next year after raising thousands for embattled surgeon Dr Charlie Teo’s brain cancer charity.
Thousands of people have ditched their cossies for a naked swim in Sydney Harbour to raise funds at the event.
But organisers could not find a major corporate sponsor for 2020 and have decided to put the event on hold. The announcement comes after a horror month for Dr Teo.
“It breaks my heart,” event founder Nigel Marsh said.
“On every single measure it is a knockout success. The one measure where it isn’t is corporate sponsorship.
“I’m stunned corporations aren’t falling over themselves to do it.”
Mr Marsh stressed that the cancellation of the event has nothing to do with recent media reports about famed neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo and that the foundation is still the chosen charity.
Earlier this year the swim raised $82,000 for the Charlie Teo Foundation and 1600 people took part at Cobblers Beach in Mosman.
Mr Marsh said there isn’t a major company he hasn’t asked to sponsor the event and believes he was turned down because the event involves nudity.
He cannot fund the event out of his own pocket.
“It’s a brilliant and unique event. The very thing that makes it so wonderful is the reason it’s so difficult to get sponsorship,” he said.
“It’s a loved, enjoyable, joyous, unique event that’s a rip-roaring success. The issue is corporate sponsorship.”
This week Dr Teo’s daughter Nicola Teo was charged after a crash between her 4WD and Jock Ross’s motorbike, which left the ex-Comanchero chief fighting for life.
Earlier in the month Dr Teo said he was “surprised and tremendously disappointed” by a news story attacking his professionalism and accusing him of inappropriate conduct.
A number of unnamed doctors accused the flamboyant surgeon of a number of inappropriate actions and gestures while operating. The quotes from the unnamed surgeons in the Sydney Morning Herald report claimed he had charged excessive fees and had performed unnecessary surgeries.
Dr Teo is a strong supporter of the Sydney Skinny and has taken part in the event several times.
He has brought his four daughters and their boyfriends along to take part. His staff of doctors, nurses and students, alongside fellow neurosurgeons, also join in as a team bonding exercise.
In 2018 the Sydney Skinny became the first major fundraising event for his newly-formed brain cancer charity.
The swim has grown substantially since it started seven years ago with just 700 swimmers. Mr Marsh is proud of the success and the joy the swim has given people, and is thankful for all the sponsors who supported it in previous years. The event celebrates all that is good in the world.
He is hopeful the swim can return in 2021 and is appealing to major corporations to become the foundation partner.
Anyone interested is asked to contact swim@thesydneyskinny.com.au. The Mosman Daily has contacted Dr Teo’s office and the Charlie Teo Foundation for comment.