St Bees Soap Box Derby raises funds for the RNLI

After nearly 40 years, a dedicated committee was formed to resurrect a once loved village tradition. On Friday 29 December 2023, teams set off from the top of the village in fancy dress hoping to be the first to race through all seven pit stops along the route. The event was sponsored by local business C. Sharpe Roofing.

Three charities were chosen to receive the money raised, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, and a local charity Jude Jackson.

St Bees lifeboat was well represented in the race as two volunteer crew donned their best fancy dress and joined in the fun. MND Association is close to the hearts of many of the St Bees RNLI crew, as their former Safety, Health and Environment officer passed away after being diagnosed with the disease.

St Bees RNLI crew met with the organisers before their weekly training night to discuss the event’s success. They were also presented with a cheque for £410 which was very gladly received.

Dick Deddows, St Bees RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said:

‘We would like to thank the organisers for their hard work in bringing back a much-loved village tradition with the added bonus of raising funds for three brilliant charities.

'As a charity organisation, the RNLI relies solely on donations in order carry out our mission, to save lives at sea.'

Notes to editors

• St Bees Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1970. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to http://www.rnli.org.uk/StBees

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please email Joe Raymond, St Bees RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer at [email protected] or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Media Officer on [email protected] or 07977 728 315. 

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Press Office on [email protected] or 01202 336789.