Three-time world surfing champion, Mick Fanning, has been in the news over his near-death experience with a great white shark.

Today, he used his career fame to help young children battling cancer.

Laura Hingston reports.

TRANSCRIPT

This has to be one of the most watched shark encounters in surfing history, but today he faced the media in the name of charity.

Mick Fanning gladly donated one of his handmade boards to be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to Camp Quality on the Gold Coast.

Mick Fanning, Pro surfer: “To help out kids in need is something you don’t really have to think twice about, it’s one of those things where if you can help put a smile on kids faces, you’re doing something right.”

Camp Quality aims to improve day-to-day life for children like these battling cancer, right from diagnosis through to treatment and in remission.

They call themselves ‘campers,’ and for people like Aaron it’s been seven years and he’s currently in remission.

Aaron Richardson, ‘Camper’: “Camp Quality has done heaps, they have put on family camps, and just made our lives happier throughout my cancer treatment.”

Hayden Richardson, Brother: “They have shown us that there is hope in life, always a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”

Mick Fanning is no stranger to to donating money to charity, he recently gave $75,000 to shark survivor Mathew Lee.

But right now Fanning’s focus is also on winning his fourth world title.

Mick Fanning, Pro Surfer: “Everything has been feeling really good, I’ve had about 10 days at home to regroup and recover.”

With three events remaining, he’s currently ranked number one.

Laura Hingston, QUT News.