Tower RNLI crew to cycle 540km from Poole to Tower Lifeboat Pier

On 26 September, Tower RNLI crew members will set off from Poole on an eight-day fundraising cycle ride, visiting lifeboat stations along the South East Coast before finishing at their home station at Lifeboat Pier on the River Thames.

At time of planning, the crew decided to cycle 540km, one kilometre for every life Tower RNLI crews have saved since the station came into service in 2002.

The route will take the team through some of the communities and lifeboat stations that form part of the RNLI's lifesaving network, with planned stops and additional riders joining from Cowes, Littlehampton, Dungeness, Walmer and Whitstable, alongside a number of other stations still to be announced.

Tower RNLI is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in the RNLI and is currently the busiest station in the organisation, with crews responding to an average of more than 600 taskings every year from HM Coastguard.

Based on the River Thames, Tower's volunteer crews provide a 24-hour search and rescue service on one of the UK's busiest waterways, running 12 hour shift patterns, responding to incidents ranging from people in the water and vessels in difficulty to searches and other emergencies.

The charity cycle is designed not only to raise vital funds for Tower RNLI, but also to highlight the extraordinary commitment of its volunteer crews and the lifesaving work carried out day and night on the Thames and across the coast.

RNLI Crew member Toni who's tackling the route said, 'we wanted to take on a challenge that really represented what Tower RNLI is about. The 540km distance has a very special meaning for us, it's a reminder of every life our crews have saved since we came on service in 2002.'

RNLI Thames Commander Nick added, 'cycling from Poole, around the South East Coast and then up the Thames will be a real test, but we're looking forward to meeting fellow RNLI crews along the way and raising as much money as possible for our station.'

The RNLI is a charity that relies on voluntary donations to keep its lifeboats, equipment and volunteer crews ready to respond.

Every donation to the Tower RNLI fundraising campaign will help provide vital training and equipment for the station's volunteer crew, helping them remain ready to answer the call whenever someone needs their help.

Support the Tower RNLI crew through their JustGiving fundraising page. https://tinyurl.com/Tower540km

RNLI Media Contacts

Ashley Bard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Stella Sims, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 316675, [email protected]

Sam Haddad, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 01202 137713, [email protected]

Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [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.