Words by Smiley Team
Right now, most of us are still being asked to stay at home. But for the RNLI, their volunteer lifeboat crews are still on call 24/7, ready to drop everything at a moment’s notice when the pager sounds, to go out and save lives at sea.
The charity operates over 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland and has more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and channel islands. The charity is independent of Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its vital rescue services which since 1842 have saved over 142,700 lives.
Due to the pandemic the planned fundraising events have been cancelled, so the charity has launched its Virtual Mayday appeal. Mayday normally sees people taking part in group fundraising events around the UK and Ireland but, due to Covid-19, the RNLI took their campaign online.
Following the success of the charity’s recent Facebook Live Water Safety Wednesdays and Virtual Pub Quiz, the RNLI launched ‘Cuppa with the Crew’, a Facebook Live event on Friday 1 May, where followers joined Rich and Nat from Appledore RNLI Lifeboat Station for a cuppa, ask questions and enjoy a well-deserved tea break. Supporters are asked to make a small donation of the price they would usually pay for a takeaway coffee or tea.
Other RNLI Mayday fundraising challenges included Step to it for Mayday, the Lifesaver Quiz - a take on the classic pub quiz - and H2Only - drinking nothing but water for 10 days, forgoing your favourite beverages and tipples.
Jayne George, RNLI Fundraising, Marketing and Media Director said ‘Our Mayday fundraising campaign is a vital event in the RNLI calendar and - given the current situation - it is more important than ever’.
‘While many fundraising events and gatherings have been cancelled, our brave lifeboat volunteers are still responding to their pagers and launching in lockdown. So, we are encouraging our supporters to take on fundraising challenges at home. That way they will be able to help protect our lifesavers, while also keeping themselves and others safe.’
Just this weekend, three different RNLI bases were called out to support people in distress, with RNLI Mudeford being tasked with rescues twice in two days. This comes in spite of the government enforced lockdown and the advice to stay out of the water.
Anyone still wishing to get involved can find materials and challenges at their website where donations can also be made.
By Ellen Jones
