Sydney Skinny organisers fear cancelling 2018 swim if new sponsors not found for Cobblers Beach event
THE annual Sydney Skinny nude swim at Cobblers Beach might be cancelled in 2018 if new sponsors are not found.
MORE swimmers than ever enjoyed the fifth annual Sydney Skinny at Cobblers Beach this year, but without new sponsorship the “life-affirming” event might not return until 2019.
The 2018 swim faces a shortfall of about $45,000 if new sponsors are not forthcoming.
This year’s nude swim attracted more than 1400 entrants, including about 70 who registered on the day at Middle Head.
Participants raised about $32,000 and counting for the Skinny’s charities, the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife and Charlie Teo’s Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, in addition to individuals’ chosen causes.
The swim is billed as an uplifting celebration of positive things: courage, acceptance, community, charity and Sydney Harbour.
Skinny founder Nigel Marsh said juice company Nudie would no longer be the event’s main sponsor.
“After five years and a recent change of corporate ownership, Nudie has decided that next year, whilst still sponsoring a wave and being ever present at the event, they will no longer be our presenting partner,” he said.
“It’s a huge task to put on the Sydney Skinny each year.
“Importantly, we are totally determined never to drop our standards or compromise the integrity of the day by either charging too much or accepting an inappropriate sponsor who doesn’t fully understand the event.
“Which is all a long way of saying we are after a new presenting partner, three or four new wave sponsors or a generous, like-minded philanthropist.”
Mr Marsh said companies would gain a “proof point” that their brand was genuine and a lot of publicity through sponsoring the Skinny.
He said research by public relations firm Red Agency showed that the 2017 Skinny generated PR value worth $9.5m and 123 pieces of media coverage, a 16 per cent increase from the previous year.
Mr Marsh said if new sponsors were not found in the next couple of months, organisers would reluctantly make 2018 a “fallow” year and return bigger and better in 2019.
“We obviously would prefer not to take a break, because our dream is to have the Sydney Skinny happening every year, but we have to be realistic and protect the specialness of the event,” Mr Marsh said.
“We are hopeful that there will be a number of people out there who will also recognise the unique, high-profile and impactful opportunity the Sydney Skinny represents.
“It’s just a little thing on the calendar, it does not do any harm, it raises tens of thousands of dollars for charity and puts a smile on people’s faces.”
THE SYDNEY SKINNY
Mr Marsh said people or companies could email marshkathryn00@gmail.com if they were interested in sponsoring the event.
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