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Barry Dock RNLI welcomes fundraiser ahead of sponsored swim

Lifeboats News Release

A keen open water swimmer is taking part in this years Castle 2 Castle event in Cornwall to raise vital funds for the RNLI, and Barry Dock were delighted to invite him for a tour of the station ahead of his swim.

RNLI/Amy Mills + Barry Dock RNLI

Christopher Horner with Barry Dock station's mechanic Ben Phillips

Christopher Horner, who will be taking on this event for the 8th time, will be swimming one mile from Pendennis Castle in Falmouth and finishing at St Mawes Castle on the Rosalind Peninsula. This event is designed for experienced open water swimmers, and Christopher has been swimming open water since his youth.

Because of his experience in the water, Christopher understands the importance of sea safety and told us that he would only swim at beaches were there are lifeguards on duty. He also regularly gives sea safety advice at the schools where he is a violin teacher.

Christopher has long-standing connections with the RNLI, with his parents remembered on Invergordon RNLI's Shannon the Agnes A P Barr, through the Launch a Memory tribute, and also through his brother who was part of a film crew that covered the Penlee disaster in 1981.

Christopher was greeted and given a guided tour of the station by the full-time Mechanic Ben Phillips. Ben gave Christopher the full RNLI experience, by kitting him out in one of the iconic RNLI yellow drysuits and inviting him to look around Barry Dock’s soon to be retiring Trent class all-weather lifeboat.

Christopher commented that the 'equipment is expensive, and I’m wearing £2500 worth of it. As well as training and lifeboats, this is where your donations go. We need to keep this great organisation afloat!'

Ben Phillips, Barry Dock RNLI Mechanic said:

'It was a joy to welcome Christopher to the station and show him around ahead of his fundraising challenge. As a charity who've been saving lives at sea for 200 years and counting, we rely on the generosity of fundraisers and supporters like Christopher, whose efforts bring in vital lifesaving funds that enable our crews to continue going out to sea to save lives.

'Myself and all of the wider crew at Barry Dock RNLI wish him the very best of luck and a huge thank you for his fundraising efforts.'

Christopher is hoping to raise £1000 for the RNLI through this year's Castle 2 Castle swim - you can donate to his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ChristopherHorner2024

Notes to Editor

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RNLI/Amy Mills + Barry Dock RNLI

Christopher Horner with Barry Dock station's mechanic Ben Phillips

RNLI/Amy Mills + Barry Dock RNLI

Christopher Horner with Barry Dock station's mechanic Ben Phillips inside the Trent all weather lifeboat

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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