Our Story
Somewhere in Cape Town today, a young person is standing on the edge of a skatepark watching others ride. Not because they lack talent, determination or potential, but because they cannot afford a skateboard.
For many people, a skateboard is simply a piece of equipment. For others, it becomes a community, a creative outlet, a source of confidence and a reason to believe in themselves. It teaches resilience, discipline and perseverance. More importantly, it creates a sense of belonging.
Skate Don't Fade was established in honour of Sebastian Dos Santos and the values he embodied through skateboarding: community, passion, friendship and opportunity. This is not a campaign about loss. It is a campaign about creating opportunities for young people who may never otherwise have the chance to experience the positive impact that skateboarding can have on their lives.
Who We Are
Across South Africa, many young people face simple but significant barriers to participation. Skateboards, safety equipment, transport and access to coaching remain out of reach for countless aspiring skaters. As a result, talent is lost before it has the opportunity to develop.
Skate Don't Fade exists to remove those barriers.
Through our programs, we provide skateboards, protective equipment, mentorship, coaching, community skate sessions, youth development workshops and safe spaces where young people can learn, grow and connect. Our flagship initiative, Ride Forward, is built on a simple belief: no young person should be excluded from skateboarding because they cannot afford the equipment.
Every donation helps create real opportunities. Funds raised support skateboard setups, helmets and safety gear, mentorship and coaching programs, community outreach initiatives, transportation assistance for participants and the long-term sustainability of Skate Don't Fade's youth development projects.
A skateboard may seem like a small thing, but its impact can be life-changing. It can introduce a young person to positive role models, lifelong friendships, personal achievement and a supportive community that believes in their potential.
We believe every young person deserves that opportunity.
By supporting Skate Don't Fade, you are not simply funding a skateboard. You are investing in confidence, mentorship, community and possibility. You are helping create environments where young people can thrive and building a legacy that extends far beyond the skatepark.
Together, we can ensure that opportunity is not determined by circumstance.
Help us keep them rolling.
Skate Don't Fade
We Are Coming