Seven-year-old who dreams of joining the crew set to walk to Hunstanton RNLI
A boy who hopes to join the RNLI when he grows up is walking 40 miles to a Norfolk lifeboat station to raise funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.
He'll be accompanied by his mum Kayleigh and dad Lee, along with friends and family members for the four-day trek.
He hopes to arrive at Hunstanton RNLI on Sunday 2 June, when crew members will be on hand to welcome him.
Mum Kayleigh said: 'He's just always loved the RNLI, he's already got his yellow wellies and yellow's his favourite colour because the lifeboat crews all wear yellow.
'When he grows up, it's what he wants to do, he wants to join the lifeboat crew.'
Johnathan visited the station on Sunday 28 April after volunteers had taken part in a training launch.
They told him how their lifesaving work would not be possible without kind donations from supporters.
Crew member Andrew Craven showed Johnathon around the hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer, before he gave family the thumbs up from the pilot's seat.
The walk is not Johnathan's first fundraiser for the RNLI. Last year, he took part in the Mayday Mile, aged just six, and raised £250.
Asked why he supports the charity, he said: 'They save people's lives.'
On his future ambitions, he added: 'I really want to drive the hovercraft, I just like the hovercraft a lot.'
Crew members presented Johnathon with an RNLI cap and badges to wear on his trek.
He also met Stacey O'Donnell, who ran the London Marathon for the RNLI, who handed him a baton to officially launch his walk.
Like Stacey, Johnathon looks set to smash his target. For with weeks to go, he already has more than £500 towards the £750 he originally hoped to raise.
To donate, click here for his GoFundMe page.
Johnathon's GoFundMe can be reached via https://tinyurl.com/3mr8v7rj
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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 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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