'Give it some welly' and answer the RNLI’s North West Mayday call

The RNLI’s Mayday campaign begins on Monday 1 May and will run for the whole month, with fundraising events taking place across the North West.

This year, the RNLI hopes to raise £750,000 through Mayday, which will be used to fund essential kit for the charity’s brave volunteer lifeboat crews.

On Saturday 6 May a welly relay will kick things off at Silloth RNLI. Volunteers will take an illuminated RNLI yellow welly to lifeboat stations and lifeguard units between Silloth and West Kirby by various modes of transport including train, hovercraft and ferry.

Chloe Shore, RNLI Fundraising Manager, explained: ‘The RNLI’s yellow welly is an essential piece of lifesaving kit and the symbol for our Mayday campaign. Worn by generations of crew to grip the deck in slippery conditions, the iconic yellow footwear keeps volunteers safe and steady on stormy seas. Our illuminated relay will hopefully shed some light on the importance of such lifesaving kit whilst also raising vital funds.’

Pedal power will be supporting Mayday in the form of the Three Shires Cycle Sportive. The event starts on Sunday 14 May at Sandbach Rugby Club in Cheshire and will include various routes to suit all abilities. The entrance fee for the challenge will support the RNLI. To find out more or to sign up, please visit: www.rnli.org.uk/3shires

A Mayday event for the whole family will be taking place at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre in Liverpool on Monday 29 May. The Family Fun Day will start at 10am running until 4pm and will include donkey rides, lifesaving demonstrations, local stalls and a BBQ.

Chloe, added: ‘It would be great to see as many people as possible at one of our fun events but we’d also encourage everyone to embrace their own fundraising challenge.

‘We’re asking people to “do your bit, fund our kit” this Mayday and anyone who wishes to get involved can visit RNLI.org/Mayday to register for a free Mayday pack.

‘The pack provides fundraising ideas, such as wearing wellies to work, doing a sponsored welly walk or cycle ride, or holding a bake sale.’

For more information about any of the above events, please visit: https://rnli.org/mayday/events

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Clare Hopps, RNLI Press Officer, North at [email protected] or call 07824 51864.

RNLI Picture Credits

1. RNLI fundraising welly, please credit: RNLI/Nigel Millard.

2. The illuminated relay welly, please credit: RNLI/Chloe Shore.

Notes to editors

• Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews across the UK and Ireland launched 8,851 times, rescuing 8,643 people and saving 431 lives.

• The RNLI is also encouraging people to show their support for Mayday, and join the conversation, by using the hashtag #MaydayEveryDay, donating online or buying a yellow welly pin badge.

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.