Weston-super-Mare RNLI crew member to complete Canadian Rockies Challenge

The challenge consists of an 8-day hike through the wild, across difficult terrain in the Rocky Mountains, starting on 10^th September 2026. Participants get to use it as an opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause.

Nigel will be fundraising for his chosen charity, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

He said ‘I was nominated to take part in recognition of my 26 years of service in Search and rescue with HM Coastguard and the RNLI, spending the last 19 years as volunteer crew with Weston Lifeboat. But it was also because last year, my life significantly changed.

Completely out of the blue I went from being fit and healthy to being extremely unwell. After months of tests, scans, biopsies, bloody transfusions and hospital admissions where I was literally planning my own funeral, I was finally diagnosed with a rare genetic liver condition, Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis.’

Nigel has been nominated by friends, family and fellow Weston RNLI volunteers to acknowledge the rough year he’s had but also for his 26 years of dedication to helping save lives at sea and around the coast.

Debs Congram, Nigel’s wife said ‘Following surgery he is well on the road to recovery, but it’s been slow, and his physical and mental health really took a blow.

This trek is way more than just a physical challenge to Nige and means he can fundraise for a charity close to his heart.’

Since joining Weston-super-Mare RNLI Nigel has helped to save 23 lives and aided 155 people. He plans to raise money so that Weston lifeboat station can purchase bespoke training equipment.

Liam McDermott, Weston Lifeboat Operations Manager explained: "The funds raised will help support our training with an advanced man-overboard mannequin with GPS tracking to assist us when searching in the fast-moving local tides."

The Venari Partners Challenge was established in 2023 to reaffirm their commitment to corporate social responsibility by funding deserving individuals to complete expedition challenges for their chosen charities.

‘Nigel’s story stood out to us from the beginning,’ says Venari Partners Managing Director, Felix Meller.

‘His resilience – and not to mention his years of service to the RNLI – really speak to what the Venari Partners Challenge is all about. I’m delighted that Nigel is on the mend and am sure he’ll be a great credit to the VPC team in the Rockies.’

Liam added: ‘Nigel's dedication to saving lives at sea has spanned decades, and he had us all deeply worried when he fell ill. To see him now full of determination and training for this challenge to raise funds for the RNLI is brilliant.

We’re all cheering him on.’

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. Weston-super-Mare RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1882. Between 1882 and 2023 the Weston-super-Mare volunteer lifeboat crew have launched 2,269 times and saved 477 lives.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Holly Turner, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South West, [email protected]

Kyle Reed, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for South West England, 07786 668847, [email protected]

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for South West England, 07920 818807, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 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.