Property Sector, Mark Occhilupo Team Up to Wipeout Dementia

Wipeout Dementia has hit $2 million on the back of the property industry’s Bondi Beach event, with 64 heavy hitters raising nearly $350,000 to support critical research into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

The 2022 event held on March 25 continued the initiative’s successful record, reaching $2 million raised for The Dementia Momentum, with industry representatives from more than 50 organisations including Morgans, Lendlease, Buildcorp, Colliers International, UBS, CBRE and Aoyuan. 

This year 1999 world surfing champion Mark Occhilupo competed, generously auctioning off the board he rode in the 2019 Bells Beach Heritage Heat against US pro-surfer Tom Curren. 

The Dementia Momentum supports research led by the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), at UNSW Sydney.

“The evolution of Wipeout Dementia across the property industry has been inspirational and humbling,” Dementia Momentum ambassador Dr Richard Grellman, chair of IPH Limited and former chair of the Association of Surfing Professionals [International], said.

Dr Grellman’s wife Suellen has advanced young onset Alzheimer’s disease.

“Funding for dementia research still lags considerably behind other conditions, despite it being the single greatest cause of disability burden in Australia, the leading cause of death among women and the second leading cause of death overall.

“Industry partnerships are fundamental to the future landscape of this disease and we are exceptionally grateful to the property industry.”

Awards on the day including the prestigious Gnarly Award—a Mark Richards 1980 replica twin fin surfboard, which was awarded to highest fundraiser, Michael Gordon, general manager of Buildcorp Interiors.

Gordon personally raised more than $30,000 for the cause and his Buildcorp-sponsored team raised more than $90,000 and took home a five-hour private charter on a Sydney to Hobart-winning yacht donated by Jim Cooney.

▲ Former world champion Mark Occhilupo was among the surfers at the event. Photo: Sprout Daily

A competition DHD surfboard signed by ambassadors Richard Grellman and Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew went to David Kemp of Buildcorp, former NFL player Colin Scotts, Avenor director Peter Clemesha and UBS managing director Michael Hendrie, who were the other top fundraisers in this round (all raising more than $10,000).  

The 2022 Surf Off championship team was led by Avenor director Peter Clemesha, the driver behind the property industry events. Clemesha’s team also won the Battle Royale, which saw 64 surfers hit the water at once to compete for waves.

CHeBA co-directors Professor Henry Brodaty and Professor Perminder Sachdev were among those at the event, which also aimed to increase awareness about the modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias while driving research funds to harness global research to prevent dementia.

A number of projects received a funding boost as a result of the 2022 event, including the expansion of international studies under The Dementia Momentum initiative, particularly the continuation of research looking at successful brain ageing for those living to 100 and beyond.

CHeBA’s ambition is to spearhead an international effort to promote successful brain ageing and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

▲ Wipeout Dementia brings together surfers to raise funds for dementia research.

Funds raised from Wipeout Dementia will also provide funding to expand CHeBA’s twins research, which has been significant in determining the proportion of risk of Alzheimer’s disease that can be attributed to our genetic makeup compared to the proportion that can be attributed to lifestyle.

“Wipeout Dementia fundraising has been the launch pad for a significant number of priority research projects across CHeBA’s international consortia spanning more than 30 countries,” Professor Brodaty said.

The Surf Off event was sponsored by Morgans Financial, Avenor, Aoyuan International, AWM Commercial Furniture, Buildcorp, m3property, Sense Projects, Shape Australia, Winten Property Group with event partners Colliers International, Kennards Hire and Hurley.  

Donate to the Wipeout Dementia campaign, here. 

The Urban Developer is proud to support Wipeout Dementia.