A cyclist has ridden 200 miles in one day in aid of Wells RNLI
Paul Edwards cycled from his home in Hook, Hampshire on Friday 10 May to Wells RNLI station, a total of 208 miles.
Paul’s affinity and fondness for the RNLI stems from visiting the Queensferry RNLI station when he was young, as a family member was a volunteer there. Later in life he spent 2 weeks at the RNLI HQ in Poole on work experience. This led to him taking up sailing as a hobby and whilst participating in a race, the boat Paul was on became tangled in a fishing net and the Alderney Lifeboat Volunteer crew came to their aid. Paul said ‘ We were all so grateful to have the comfort of knowing the RNLI were there for us at sea, a reason I will forever donate to the charity.’
Paul decided to set himself the challenge of cycling 200 miles, in recognition of the 200 anniversary of the RNLI. Due to a road diversion, Paul cycled 208 miles, before reaching Wells RNLI at 8.50pm, having set off from home at 6.30am.
Paul had previously raised a massive £1741 for the RNLI in May 2021, cycling 457 miles in May that year, partaking in the May Day Mile Challenge. Paul had raised another incredible £1800 to date on this cycle ride.
Notes to the editor.
Wells RNLI has a D-Class Inshore Lifeboat ‘Peter Wilcox’ and a Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat ‘Duke of Edinburgh’. The boathouse and the All Weather Lifeboat were new in 2022. The ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ lifeboat was the first UK Launch a Memory lifeboat, which has 15,000 names printed on the decals. This helped to raise much needed funds for the RNLI and attracts thousands of visitors to the station.
Author Adele Meakin, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer at Wells RNLI.
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.