[London, 26 July 2024] – deboer swim and Relate Water, a non-profit social enterprise, today announced a groundbreaking founding partnership aimed at providing clean, accessible water to rural South African villages.

The partnership, which was formally announced at the London leg of the T100 Triathlon Pro Race series, aims to bring clean water to an estimated 10 000 people over the next year through the installation of solar powered water infrastructure in underserved communities. 

To help ensure this vision becomes reality, deboer will donate one percent of its annual sales, and 100% of additional “Relate branded” sales to the charity. To help raise awareness of the partnership, all deboer wetsuit orders will receive a Relate Water limited edition bracelet for the duration of the partnership. 

"As a founding partner of Relate Water, we are honoured to play a pivotal role in bringing clean water to rural South African communities," says Alex de Boer, founder of deboer swim. "Our deep connection to water through our products drives our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to this vital resource. We as athletes are so fortunate to have water for recreation- that it only makes sense to support those who need this resource to simply live.”

The two organisations will additionally participate in joint marketing initiatives to promote water conservation and sustainable practices. The initiative will be further promoted through selected collaborations with deboer professional athletes, particularly those who have connections with South Africa.  

“Most of the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who participate in our sport take water for granted,” adds co-founder David Greenstein.  “I want the people wearing deboer products to feel pride when they put them on; knowing that their purchase - and that very suit- has brought clean, safe drinking water to their fellow human beings in need.”

"This founding partnership with deboer swim marks a significant milestone in our efforts to address water scarcity in rural South Africa,” says Lauren Gillis, Founder of Relate Water. “deboer's commitment as a founding partner will greatly amplify our impact and help us transform more lives through access to clean water."

The founding partnership between deboer swim and Relate Water represents a powerful union of business and social enterprise, demonstrating how companies can take a leading role in driving positive change in communities in need.