Millie Chilly swimmers calendar raises £2,000 for Looe RNLI

The Millie Chilly Swimmers are a group of like-minded folk who swim in the sea all year round, mostly from Millendreath, Readymoney, Seaton and Looe beaches.

One of the members, Karen, who took some of the photographs for the calendar says, “We wanted to do something to raise money for the RNLI Looe Lifeboats, because, as a group of sea swimmers it is reassuring to know they are always there for us with their pagers, ready to respond, no matter what the sea throws at them. We are humbled to know these people are volunteers with jobs and a life of their own which they are willing to put on the line for all of us.”

The Millie Chilly 2024 calendar went on sale in the summer of 2023 and the group have been delighted that so many people have purchased them. As well as featuring 12 themed photographs, the calendar also includes important RNLI safety advice for anyone considering a swim in the sea.

The group celebrated their success with a lunchtime get together at the Beach House, Seaton today, Saturday 13 January 2024, where they presented a cheque for £2,000 to Looe RNLI’s fundraising team’s treasurer Jeanette Deakin and branch chair Rod Pritchard. Accepting the cheque Jeanette and Rod thanked the swimmers of behalf of the Lifeboat Station and volunteer crew. Rod went on to explain how the money raised will be used towards the running costs of the lifeboat station, crew equipment and training, all of which enables our crews to continue saving lives at sea.

Buoyed with the success of their 2024 calendar, Karen says they have already started to take photographs for their 2025 calendar, which they hope will be equally popular, as this time the group want to raise funds for the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust’s helicopter appeal.

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Notes to editors

Photos:

· Millie Chilly swimmers presenting £2,000 to Looe RNLI fundraising team’s treasurer Jeanette Deakin and branch chair Rod Pritchard
Photo credit RNLI / Ian Foster

Information

· In 2024, the RNLI will be celebrating 200 years - and counting, commemorating this remarkable past, celebrating our lifesaving achievements today, and inspiring a future where we can save every one. More information on RNLI 200 can be found at https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history/2024

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· RNLI safety advice for sea swimmers can be found at https://rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity/open-water-swimming

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/looe-lifeboat-station

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone

Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07866 668847 or [email protected]

or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

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.