Virtual Cycle Challenge and Fundraiser for RNLI

Peter Hutchinson, a former Customer Service Director at NorthLink Ferries said “During the current lockdown I wanted to put my daily exercise time to good use and challenged myself to cycle 575-miles, the equivalent distance from Lowestoft to Aberdeen RNLI Lifeboat Station.

Mr Hutchinson said, “I am a keen cyclist and I started the challenge on 9th January 2021 and after 43 days I finally achieved my aim by reaching my target mileage - averaging thirteen and a half miles per day. I went to school in Oulton Broad and all the miles have been cycled locally in and around Lowestoft in line with government guidance during the pandemic.

I am very pleased to say that the Suffolk countryside is much flatter than it would have been in Scotland, which is helping greatly!

I come from a seafaring family and my mother Pat was a former member of Lowestoft Ladies Lifeboat Guild so we have always been supporters of the RNLI. I also used to work on the ferries and as a sailing instructor for the RYA and have also fundraised for RNLI in Aberdeen, Orkney & Shetland.

My aim was to raise £575, which is a £1 for every mile and that has been exceeded with £647.50 in donations and £119.38 in Gift Aid bringing a total of £766.88 going directly to the RNLI.”

Mr Hutchinson intends to continue cycling and fundraising by covering the distance from Aberdeen to Scrabster near Thurso in the far north of Scotland, where ferries depart for Orkney and onwards to the Shetland Islands.

A lifeboat spokesman said “Peter Hutchinson, has taken on a very impressive challenge to raise money for the RNLI and we are extremely grateful for his wonderful fundraising efforts."

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peter-hutchinson8

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.