$6,275 CAD raised
·42 donations
Send Luis Alberto Cruz to 2019 GKA World Cup
Donation protected
Who is Luis Alberto Cruz?
We could tell you all about how he is an amazing world-class athlete, but this article does a better job with that than we could:
https://www.iksurfmag.com/features/who-is-luis-alberto-cruz/
Instead, we’ll tell you that while Luis is known as a world champion, and a role model to kiteboarding fans, only his local peers and close friends know that he is struggling to support his three young children. Life in La Ciénaga (the neighbourhood where Luis’ family lives) can be very hard for those without financial means, and those of us who have had greater fortune in this life would be surprised at the conditions that poverty lies on Luis and other Dominicans there.
Luis’ talent has taken him to compete in events sponsored by the WKL (World Kiteboarding League) in Europe and elsewhere, and he has regularly placed along the top of the leaderboards. Without outside help however, Luis simply cannot afford to go and compete at the international level that he has reached. These competition events may seem frivolous to some, but considering his talent and skills, these events translate into real opportunities for him to earn a means to support his family.
In 2016, Luis won the WKL World Championships and his prize money allowed him to buy some land and to build a small house for his family. His simple home has concrete flooring, wooden walls, a small kitchen corner, two rooms with two beds in each, and some chairs. It lacks windows, a shower, and a septic system, but it is a roof over their heads
nonetheless.
The following year, Luis competed at the WKL Kiteboarding World Cup in El Gouna, Egypt. After making the final heat and with two broken ribs, he still managed to take third place! With this third place win, he was promised to take home €2,940 ($3,500 USD) in prize money. What Luis actually took home was a huge “poster cheque”, some photos in magazines, and a few handshakes from event organizers with the promise that "the prize money will be wired…” but unfortunately the payment never came.
Most would agree that $3,500 USD is a fairly serious amount to be owed. For someone from the little town of Cabarete, however, that money can bring more than a year’s worth of food supply, and it can allow someone to build up a better house and living situation. Sadly, in 2018 after a kiteboarding World Cup event, where Luis was given another unfulfilled promise of having earned prize money, the lack of necessary means forced Luis to stop competing abroad.
In an attempt to start helping Luis, we’ve tried to contact the World Kiteboarding League office and have also sent messages to the CEO of the El Gouna event through Facebook and emails, but we haven’t received any response.
When you meet Luis, his polite and humble personality always leave you smiling. Competing is not just about an ambition to be the World’s top kiteboarder; it represents an opportunity for Luis to secure larger sponsors and earn money. For him, being able to compete at international events again would bring a real chance to better life for him and his family.
Just few weeks back at the end of February, Luis won first place at 2019 DR Open Kiteboarding Championship. He is training hard, and at the top of his game in hopes that life will present him another chance to pursue his goals.
Right now, Luis’ dream is to be able to travel to the 2019 GKA World Cup Freestyle competitions https://www.gkakiteworldtour.com/events/
Learning more about the personal struggles of people like Luis makes us realize that we can change someone’s life and destiny by taking a few simple actions. We have already managed to help Luis repair parts of his home, and enroll him in English lessons which will serve him well as he travels and eventually transitions to teaching kiteboarding to others.
Now we are asking you, on Luis’ behalf, to please contribute to his Go Fund Me so he can continue to take place in international events, win big, and improve the lives of him and his family.
Muchas gracias!
This campaign was created by friends of Luis from Canada. Our hope is to raise these funds to allow Luis to be able to attend the World Cup events this year, we will book travel when he is not able to and also send funds directly to Luis to help with his family.
We could tell you all about how he is an amazing world-class athlete, but this article does a better job with that than we could:
https://www.iksurfmag.com/features/who-is-luis-alberto-cruz/
Instead, we’ll tell you that while Luis is known as a world champion, and a role model to kiteboarding fans, only his local peers and close friends know that he is struggling to support his three young children. Life in La Ciénaga (the neighbourhood where Luis’ family lives) can be very hard for those without financial means, and those of us who have had greater fortune in this life would be surprised at the conditions that poverty lies on Luis and other Dominicans there.
Luis’ talent has taken him to compete in events sponsored by the WKL (World Kiteboarding League) in Europe and elsewhere, and he has regularly placed along the top of the leaderboards. Without outside help however, Luis simply cannot afford to go and compete at the international level that he has reached. These competition events may seem frivolous to some, but considering his talent and skills, these events translate into real opportunities for him to earn a means to support his family.
In 2016, Luis won the WKL World Championships and his prize money allowed him to buy some land and to build a small house for his family. His simple home has concrete flooring, wooden walls, a small kitchen corner, two rooms with two beds in each, and some chairs. It lacks windows, a shower, and a septic system, but it is a roof over their heads
nonetheless.
The following year, Luis competed at the WKL Kiteboarding World Cup in El Gouna, Egypt. After making the final heat and with two broken ribs, he still managed to take third place! With this third place win, he was promised to take home €2,940 ($3,500 USD) in prize money. What Luis actually took home was a huge “poster cheque”, some photos in magazines, and a few handshakes from event organizers with the promise that "the prize money will be wired…” but unfortunately the payment never came.
Most would agree that $3,500 USD is a fairly serious amount to be owed. For someone from the little town of Cabarete, however, that money can bring more than a year’s worth of food supply, and it can allow someone to build up a better house and living situation. Sadly, in 2018 after a kiteboarding World Cup event, where Luis was given another unfulfilled promise of having earned prize money, the lack of necessary means forced Luis to stop competing abroad.
In an attempt to start helping Luis, we’ve tried to contact the World Kiteboarding League office and have also sent messages to the CEO of the El Gouna event through Facebook and emails, but we haven’t received any response.
When you meet Luis, his polite and humble personality always leave you smiling. Competing is not just about an ambition to be the World’s top kiteboarder; it represents an opportunity for Luis to secure larger sponsors and earn money. For him, being able to compete at international events again would bring a real chance to better life for him and his family.
Just few weeks back at the end of February, Luis won first place at 2019 DR Open Kiteboarding Championship. He is training hard, and at the top of his game in hopes that life will present him another chance to pursue his goals.
Right now, Luis’ dream is to be able to travel to the 2019 GKA World Cup Freestyle competitions https://www.gkakiteworldtour.com/events/
Learning more about the personal struggles of people like Luis makes us realize that we can change someone’s life and destiny by taking a few simple actions. We have already managed to help Luis repair parts of his home, and enroll him in English lessons which will serve him well as he travels and eventually transitions to teaching kiteboarding to others.
Now we are asking you, on Luis’ behalf, to please contribute to his Go Fund Me so he can continue to take place in international events, win big, and improve the lives of him and his family.
Muchas gracias!
This campaign was created by friends of Luis from Canada. Our hope is to raise these funds to allow Luis to be able to attend the World Cup events this year, we will book travel when he is not able to and also send funds directly to Luis to help with his family.
Donations
Co-organizers (4)
Luis Alberto Cruz
Organizer
Burlington, ON
David Stanek
Co-organizer
Tobias Stanek
Co-organizer
David Staněk
Co-organizer