A charity formed in the memory of late Australian snowboarding champion Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin has deleted a post about what happened to $500,000 raised in a marathon surf event, admitting it was wrong about how the money was spent. 

The Chumpy Pullin Foundation announced in March 2024 that 'all' of the half a million dollars raised by surfing legend Blake Johnston in a world record 40-hour surf had been donated to a business he runs, Swellbeing. 

'We can't believe it's been a year since our legend (Johnston) achieved his awe-inspiring feat,' the post read.

'And if $500k in donations and 707 waves caught wasn't enough, all money raised has been donated to Swellbeing, a youth empowerment program immersing young individuals in nature-based experiences.'

Mr Johnston, a well-known local identity in Cronulla, south of Sydney, runs a business that hosts surf camps involving cold water immersion sessions, technology detoxes, and breathwork.

But when the Daily Mail asked questions about the payment, it set off a series of events culminating in the charity admitting only $10,000 of the $500,000 had been paid to Mr Johnston's business and that its announcement was 'clearly a mistake'. 

The Chumpy Pullin Foundation was founded by Pullin's partner, Ellidy, and accountant Ben Johnston, after Chumpy - an Australian snowboarding champion and Winter Olympics flagbearer - tragically drowned while spearfishing on the Gold Coast in July 2020.

The foundation was initially formed to 'address the barriers experienced by financially and socially disadvantaged individuals wanting to progress in (snowboarding) to become world-class athletes' and held a series of lavish gala celebrations.

Ellidy, Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin and their dog Rummi are seen before his tragic death aged 32

Ellidy welcomed Chumpy's daughter Minnie after posthumously harvesting his sperm and conducting IVF 

Blake Johnston smashed a surfing world record to raise funds for the Chumpy Pullin Foundation

The charity closed in December 2024, asserting that funds raised would be dedicated to youth mental health initiatives.

Earlier that year it had cheerily announced surfer Blake Johnston - brother of the charity's founder - had raised half a million dollars with a marathon surf. 

Mr Johnston's surf stunt garnered a wave of positive publicity and netted a $15,000 donation from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who donated from his official Premier's Discretionary Fund.

But when the Daily Mail asked questions about the $500,000 in donations, it was contacted by a well-known Sydney media personality, who revealed that the Facebook post claiming the money raised was donated to Swellbeing was wrong.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Mr Johnston and Swellbeing were concerned this article would insinuate the funds had been in some way misappropriated. The Daily Mail does not suggest this is the case and accepts that the reference to the $500,000 payment to Swellbeing was made in error.