Two young girls show appreciation through lemonade
It’s the thought that counts at Cowes RNLI lifeboat station, when it comes to Bianca Flanders aged 11 and her six year old sister Clarissa.
After paying a visit with their mother Ren to the station in Cowes Week the girls went away determined to raise money for the charity. At their home in Gordon Road, Cowes, with the help of a neighbour they set about making home-made lemonade on a hot day and selling it by the glass from a pavement stall to passers-by.
The two girls, with a business acumen that belied their years, decided the RNLI should receive 10 percent of the takings. So from the £13 of gross takings they duly turned up at the station to hand over £1.30p.
So touched was station visits officer Penny Maclean that the girls and their mother were invited to a training night to receive a ‘thank you’ certificate and a cuddle from the RNLI’s mascot Stormy Stan.
“I liked what you do here – helping people without any government money,” explained Bianca. Her proud mother said she was completely unaware of the initiative. “I work nights as a senior care worker so I was asleep at the time,” she said.
After receiving a rousing clap from the station volunteers the two girls stayed to watch the lifeboat being launched for a training exercise.
“The amount of money is irrelevant in this case,” said Penny. “This is an example of what young people on this Island will do for a good cause. Putting together a business model and then following it through with some hard work.”
Bianca said she would now be thinking of other ways of helping the 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 146,000 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.