On Thursday 18 August 'Surfers Paradise' in Knokke-Heist is organising their very first Never Give Up Day Challenge!

Never Give Up Day

Millions of Americans and Canadians are celebrating Never Give Up Day this year. More than 50 mayors in the US and Canada have declared 18 August as Never Give Up Day, making it a nationwide celebration day. In our country, too, people are trying to give shape to this day, and because Surfers Paradise was fighting for its survival for years, this association is being put forward as a symbolic site.

Paddle surfing

On Thursday 18 August, 'Surfers Paradise' in Knokke-Heist is organising their very first Never Give Up Day Challenge! The Challenge means that anyone can take part in a paddle challenge on a surfboard. All participants can choose from different distances ranging from 300m to 2100m, each per 300m. Time is irrelevant and breaks can be taken along the way. Anyone can participate with their own board, or use a board and wetsuit for free. The aim is not to give up the chosen distance. Participation is free and there will be guidance on the water.

There are several charities calling on their supporters to participate, such as Light And Love, a foundation that helps visually impaired and blind people build quality lives, and Welfare, a foundation fighting against poverty. The "never give up day" is for everyone: people struggling with an illness, athletes, employees, entrepreneurs, everyone can use a never give up day once in a while.

Mathieu Bonne

The Challenge kicks off at 11h where adventurer, mountaineer, and Ironman Mathieu Bonne will give a motivational speech for all participants. Matthieu Bonne (28), who was featured in the Eén programme Kamp Waes, swam down the Belgian coast...was the first ever to complete a series of triathlons in the Canary Islands. In eight days on each of the eight inhabited islands, the Breden native swam 3.8 kilometres, cycled 180 kilometres and ran a marathon. A unique record.

The connection between Knokke-Heist and "Never Give Up Day" is quickly laid when we bring up the poem by the former mayor of Knokke, Dr Eugene Mattelaer. In 1944, the late Dr Eugène Mattelaer, wrote his most famous poem titled 'Never Give Up The Courage.' The poem was subsequently translated into 750 languages, dialects and auxiliary languages and is listed as the most translated Dutch poem - also in the Guinness Book of Record. His poem teaches us that we do not need special superpowers to face insurmountable life challenges. We may not be able to fly, but we can do the little bit, everything we can, to move forward. Because ultimately, everything we do revolves around moving forward. It becomes more interesting when one juxtaposes Dr Mattelaer's poem and Martin Luther King's speech:

Speech by Martin Luther King during a gathering in 1967: "Keep Moving Forward"

If you can't fly then run
if you can't run then walk
if you can't walk then crawl,
but whatever you do
you have to keep moving forward."

Dr Mattelaer's poem "Never Give Up The Courage" (1944):

Can't fly, walk
Can't walk, go
Can't go, crawl
But never give up courage
And after all, striving forward

So anyone who wants to paddle for a while can come to Surfers Paradise on Thursday, 18 August, starting at 11am. You can register below.

Click here to watch a video of 'Never Give Up Day': https://youtu.be/iql7cJPJorw

More info about Never Give Up Day: www.nevergiveupday.com