Sailor turned skydiver fundraises for Eastbourne RNLI as part of Mayday campaign

With demand for the RNLI’s lifesaving services at a high, the charity is putting out its own ‘Mayday’ call, urging members of the local community to take part in the Mayday Mile - taking on the challenge of covering a mile a day for the month of May. All money raised will help to provide the charity’s vital lifesaving service, through the training and equipment that is needed to keep its lifesavers safe, while they risk their own lives to save others.

Funds raised will help support the charity’s vital lifesaving work, including the provision of important training and kit for the volunteer lifeboat crews who readily risk their own lives to save others whenever the call for help comes in.

One such person who was inspired to raise money for Eastbourne lifeboat station is Steve Hodges. He decided to fundraise for Eastbourne RNLI after suffering a dismasting incident, where the mast of his yacht became detached from his vessel, 10 miles off the Northern coast of France. Having been billed €3,900 from the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM), the French equivalent of the RNLI, he became inspired to raise money for our charity. He embarked on a skydive from Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent, jumping 12,000 feet in tandem with Simon (his skydive instructor), ultimately raising £5,040 for Eastbourne RNLI.

Steve also has a personal connection with Eastbourne RNLI, enlisting help from their volunteer crew in 2022 to propose to his fiancée Sam McClements by flag signals from the lifeboat to his yacht. This was a huge success and a complete surprise for Sam. Luckily for Steve she said “yes” and accepted his proposal.

The RNLI’s Mayday fundraiser begins on Monday 1 May and will run for the whole month across the UK and Ireland.

Carl Pocock, volunteer lifeboat operations managed at Eastbourne RNLI says: ‘Summer is the busiest time of year for the RNLI, with thousands of people at risk of getting into danger by the water. Having recently marked the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, we’re putting out our call for help to raise the funds which will help keep our lifesaving service going today and into the future.

‘As a charity we rely on the generosity of the public to take part in events like the Mayday Mile and raise the funds that allow us to be there when we’re needed most.’

Sign up for the Mayday Mile now and find out more at rnli.org/SupportMayday

Notes to editors

· Eastbourne lifeboat station has been operating since 1822. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/eastbourne-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Fliss Snalam, RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200

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.