MORE than 300 people will paddle out at Cabarita Beach tomorrow in memory of drowned teenager Samuel Mwangi Macharia.

An official ceremony will then be held on Wednesday when the teenager's Kenyan family will join his Australian family in a celebration-of-life service.

Samuel drowned off Cabarita Beach on Sunday, December 4 after heading out for a run and swim that afternoon.

An exhausting five-day search ended on Thursday, December 8 when his body was found by surf lifesavers on the beach at Salt.

The talented football player came to Australia in 2006 as an offshoot of a Tweed Shire Council mentoring program in Kenya.

He was billeted by council employees Bernie and Sandra Zietlow and their three sons Ricky, Kurt and Ryan and attended Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School where he had just finished his Year 10 school certificate.

He would have turned 17 on Tuesday, December 6.

The Zietlow family and Samuel's Kenyan family have invited the community to attend the service held in The Shed at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School and led by Father Glen Loughrey from 11am (NSW) on Wednesday, December 21.

Sam's "Aussie" dad, Mr Zietlow, will read the eulogy.

In memory of Sam, orange ribbons will be available at the service for a gold coin donation.

The families have requested donations to Sam's legacy in lieu of flowers.

Donations can be made at any Commonwealth Bank or online - BSB: 062580 Account Number: 10231433.

A paddle-out, advertised on Facebook, will begin at 2.30pm (NSW).