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Portishead RNLI extremely grateful for mystery cash donation

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteer crew at RNLI Portishead have received a generous cash donation of £1,260 from a mystery donor, and would like to thank the anonymous person.

This unexpected act of kindness highlights the valuable role that the RNLI has played for the past 200 years, and this donation will provide valuable funds for life-saving equipment.

The Portishead RNLI crew was both surprised and incredibly grateful to receive an envelope containing £1,260 in twenty pound notes, sent anonymously to the lifeboat station.

Despite the absence of a note within the envelope, the Portishead RNLI crew would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the mystery donor. The funds will directly support the crew’s essential equipment and the training resources that are so vital for the crew’s readiness to respond to call outs and to save lives at sea.

The envelope was addressed simply to ‘Portishead RNLI, Portishead’, and Lifeboat Operations Manager, Dave Slack, couldn’t believe it when he realised what had been posted.

Dave says: 'It’s a real privilege for us to receive kind letters of gratitude from our supporters as they always lift our spirits and make us smile. I knew this envelope was something a little different when I picked it up, but I was very surprised when saw the cash donation inside. I was even more taken aback when I counted the amount and realised how generous someone had been.

'There was no letter or note inside the envelope, so on behalf of myself and everyone in the Portishead crew, we want to say a huge thank you to our mystery donor. This money will go towards the kit that our crew need to continue to train, operate, and save lives. We hope that they will somehow see this message and know that we are extremely grateful.'

This year is the RNLI’s 200th anniversary and throughout the year we will be commemorating and celebrating those people that have supported the organisation. This act of generosity serves as a poignant reminder of the impact it has had on countless lives since its inception.

Notes to editors

· A photo of the envelope containing the donation that was sent to Portishead RNLI

· Photo of the Portishead RNLI lifeboat – My Lady Anne - (an Atlantic 85 B-Class)

· A photo of some of the RNLI Portishead volunteer crew

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Sue Palfrey, RNLI deputy volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 138320

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.