‘Rally Round’ Aberdeen ILB appeal hurtles into the home straight
RNLI Aberdeen’s innovative ‘Rally Round’ appeal, raffling seats in a professionally driven rally car on a stage of the Speyside Rally to raise funds for the station’s new Inshore Lifeboat, is in the home straight: last chance to buy tickets or donate before the draw takes place this Friday.
The promotion was conceived by Aberdeenshire businessman Ian Garden of RigDeluge, who sponsors local rally ace, Quintin Milne. Together with Fennel Media, they shot a video combining the thrills of rallying with the live-saving work of the RNLI, linking it to an appeal through Just Giving at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Anne-Scott8 (which includes a link where you can watch the exciting project video)
The appeal has already raised £6,070 – but there is still time to buy £5 tickets before the draw on Friday ahead of next week’s rally. The prize-winners will be treated to a thrilling rally sprint through a Speyside forest stage on Press Day ahead of the rally proper.
RigDeluge, Fennel Media, Quintin Milne and Cal Reed (mechanic and deputy 2nd coxswain at Aberdeen Lifeboat) got together again recently to film an update for the appeal which you can watch at https://vimeo.com/212734271 .
Dr Margaret Farquhar CBE, chair of the Aberdeen Branch of the RNLI, says: “Ian Garden came to us with a vision of this promotion and we are delighted that it has been so successful. As well as raising valuable funds, the video – with its messages about Respecting the Water and Saving Lives at Sea – has been seen by over 70,000 people. We’re so grateful to everyone who has donated or entered the draw, and hopefully more donations will come in before Friday.”
Almost a third of the total raised came when the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Aberdeen adopted the appeal as its chosen charity at its annual Offshore Achievement Awards evening. They screened the video during dinner and generous guests bought draw tickets to the value of £2,065 on the night.
Sabeil Ahmed, Treasurer at SPE Aberdeen visited Aberdeen Lifeboat Station to present the £2,065 raised and said: “We were delighted to select the RNLI as our charity partner for this year’s awards. As the charity that saves lives at sea, we felt that this was a very worthwhile, relevant cause which many of our members and friends would strongly support.
“We are hugely grateful to the RNLI crews for volunteering their time and helping to keep us safe every day, and to RigDeluge and Fennel Media for the work they’re doing in raising awareness of this appeal.”
RNLI media contacts:
Terry McNeill, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Aberdeen Lifeboat Station, on 01651 843225 (H) / 07946 329798 (M) or [email protected]
Or Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland on 01738 642956, 07786 668903 or [email protected]
Or Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
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.