Wiggle High5 team give it some welly for RNLI Mayday at the Tour de Yorkshire
Four members of top pro cycling team Wiggle High5 took a break from their Tour de Yorkshire preparation to support the RNLI’s Mayday campaign, by swapping their cycling shoes for lifeboat crew yellow wellies.
The RNLI is the official charity partner of the Tour de Yorkshire, which coincides with the RNLI’s national fundraising campaign, Mayday. Many Mayday fundraising events have a yellow welly theme, inspired by the footwear worn by the charity’s volunteer crews.
Wiggle High5 take part in the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire race tomorrow (Saturday 30 April). They will compete on the same 135K course as the men, who tackle the Otley to Doncaster route later the same day.
Wiggle High5 team members Anna Christian, Amy Roberts, Lucy Garner and Mayuko Hagiwara were keen to show their support for the lifesaving charity’s Mayday campaign, which runs until Monday 2 May.
Anna hails from the Isle of Man - the birthplace of the RNLI and home to five RNLI lifeboat stations.
She said: ‘I was delighted when I heard the RNLI was the Tour de Yorkshire’s charity for 2016 because I know what brilliant work their volunteer crews do. The fact that they just drop everything at a moment’s notice and go out to sea to rescue complete strangers is awe-inspiring.
‘I really hope everyone supports the RNLI’s Mayday campaign. I know there’ll be RNLI collectors and volunteers out along the race route so please look out for them, and perhaps buy one of their yellow welly pin badges in support of this amazing charity.’
RNLI fundraisers are collecting donations from spectators on all three days of the event and will be sharing water safety tips in the Tour Fanzones. On Sunday 1 May, over 90 amateur riders are raising money for the RNLI by taking part in the event’s sportive race.
All funds raised for Mayday through the Tour de Yorkshire partnership will be used to support the RNLI’s lifesaving service in Yorkshire, where the charity has nine lifeboat stations and provides a lifeguard service on 14 beaches.
As well as the Tour de Yorkshire fundraising, Mayday events are taking place right across the UK and Ireland and yellow welly pin badges are on sale in many locations. People can also show their support on social media by using the hashtag #MaydayEveryday.
Photos
1. Wiggle High5 team members (L-R) Anna Christian, Amy Roberts, Mayuko Hagiwara and Lucy Garner support RNLI Mayday in their RNLI yellow wellies (Inside). Credit RNLI/ Anthony Chappel-Ross
2. Wiggle High5 team members (L-R) Lucy Garner, Mayuko Hagiwara, Amy Roberts and Anna Christian support RNLI Mayday in their RNLI yellow wellies (outside on bike). Credit RNLI/ Anthony Chappel-Ross
Media contacts
For more information please contact Alison Levett, RNLI Public Relations Manager, North, on 07786 668912 or at [email protected]
Notes to editors
About Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling Team
New name. New riders. New ranking! With UCI No.1 World Ranking, the Wiggle High5 women’s professional cycling team is the team to beat this season, following an unmatched 35 victories on the UCI Women's World Tour in 2015. Having sponsored the team for three years, Wiggle, the world’s biggest online cycle and trisports retailer are delighted to continue the journey with these incredible athletes as they continue to inspire, entertain and raise awareness of the status and profile of women’s cycling www.wiggle.com
Tour de Yorkshire
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.
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.