RNLI Mayday Coastal Challenge Success

The challenge built on the very successful inaugural event in 2016, with the 2017 edition starting from North Queensferry and finishing at Kinghorn RNLI Lifeboat Station. The challenge followed the Fife Coastal Path, with four intermediate start points along the way.

The RNLI Mayday campaign is an annual fundraising event, with the 2017 event aiming to raise £750,000 nationally to buy protective clothing for volunteer lifeboat crews. Kinghorn and Aberdour RNLI fundraising branches jointly organised this event.

Sheona Smith, Kinghorn fundraising committee Chair, said, ‘Our second Coastal Challenge was another fantastic success with 120 supporters taking part in the event with over 90 taking on the full 15-mile route.

‘At the end of the walk we had raised an astounding £6,650 and we know of further donations still to be collected. This is excellent as this will help fund kit for crew with funding required for new all-weather clothing, helmets, lifejackets, gloves, and the iconic yellow wellies.

‘We would like to thank everyone who took part, with twice as many as last year. We had a welly-wanging competition at Aberdour, as well as sea-safety advice from our Community Safety team.

‘We must make special mention of one of our younger supporters. 10-year-old Cody Davie from Kirkcaldy raised £1,000 for the event AND completed the full 15-mile course dressed as a pirate! This is a remarkable amount and everyone was full of admiration for his tenacity and commitment to the Coastal Challenge.

‘The event was also supported by the local partner teams, including RNLI Lifeguards and Kinghorn Coastguard Rescue Team. The 15-mile walk began at the Harbour Light Tower with registration taking place in the yard of Calypso Marine; we are very grateful to them for clearing their yard for the day and making us so welcome.

‘We now begin preparing for our annual open day, which will be held on Saturday 22^nd July.’

http://www.justgiving.com/RNLICoastalChallengeFife2017

Donations can still be made at our Just Giving page at http://www.justgiving.com/RNLICoastalChallengeFife2017 http://www.justgiving.com/RNLICoastalChallengeFife2017

Notes to editors

• Kinghorn lifeboat station has been operating since 1965. To learn more about the lifeboat station, go to www.rnli.org.uk/kinghorn
• A video of an Atlantic 85 lifeboat can be viewed at http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press_centre/videos/video_detail?articleid=321844&category=&region=&listing
• The attached photographs are from the event

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Neil Chalmers, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07767 380274 or [email protected] or Richard Smith on 07786 668903 or at [email protected] Henry Weaver on 07771 943026 or at [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.