Whitby lifeboat station gears up for Tour de Yorkshire
Whitby’s RNLI crew welcomed the official Tour de Yorkshire trophy to the North Yorkshire coast today. Members of the public were invited to view the Y-shaped trophy at the station before it makes its journey to the race’s final finishing locations.
The RNLI is the official charity of the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire. The crew will be taking George and Mary Webb, the all weather lifeboat into the harbour to greet the cyclists as they pass Whitby’s iconic swing bridge on Sunday 1 May.
Mike Russell, RNLI Coxswain for Whitby’s Lifeboat, says: ‘We were ecstatic to welcome the trophy to Whitby. We are honoured to be the chosen charity for this year’s event and can’t wait to see the cyclists on the day.'
The Tour de Yorkshire begins on Friday 29 April in Beverley and ends on Sunday 1 May in Scarborough, covering 320 miles and passing through 44 towns and villages as well as some of Yorkshire’s most stunning countryside. The event takes place at the same time as Mayday, the charity’s national fundraising campaign.
The lifesaving charity is recruiting volunteer collectors to raise funds along the route of the three-day bike race, as well as volunteer coordinators who will help organise the fundraising activity at the event.
All volunteers will receive training and support from the RNLI to help them in their role, as well as the opportunity to get involved in one of the most exciting sporting events of the year.
All funds raised for Mayday through the Tour de Yorkshire partnership will be used to support the RNLI’s lifesaving service in Yorkshire.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 0300 300 9908.
RNLI Picture caption
Whitby RNLI Station Mechanic Richard Dowson (left) and Coxswain Mike Russell (right) hold the Tour de Yorkshire trophy with crew members Jamie White and Steve Boocock on board George and Mary Webb, at Whitby lifeboat station. Credit: RNLI.
Notes to editors
Tour de Yorkshire is a Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY) / Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) race in association with British Cycling which holds a 2.1 European Tour UCI Classification.
The Tour de Yorkshire is an annual international race with a new route through Yorkshire each year. It forms part of the legacy of the historic Yorkshire Grand Départ of the Tour de France 2014, along with the Yorkshire Bank Bike Libraries which aim to offer every child in Yorkshire access to a bike.
Media contacts
For more information please contact Ceri Oakes, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07813359428 or at [email protected] or Alison Levett, RNLI Public Relations Manager, North, on 07786 668912 or at [email protected] Or Clare Hopps, RNLI Public Relations Officer, North, on 07824 518641 or at [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 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok 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.