Redcar RNLI hosts Our Blue Light relay torch

On Tuesday 8 August 2017 the relay torch was brought to the lifeboat station by Ian Widdas and Phil Spencer of Cleveland Police and was handed into the care of RNLI volunteer crew member Paul McQuillan in front of an assembled group representing some of the emergency service who watch for and respond to incidents on the coast.

At the end of the visit the torch was handed back to the police officers so that it could continue on it's journey through the area before finally ending its journey in the North West of England in September.

Dave Cocks, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Redcar RNLI said: 'The recent high profile incidents in London and elsewhere have really highlighted the work of the emergency services, including those from the voluntary 999 services like the RNLI.

'The relay comes on the back of the Blue Light Programme started by the mental health charity Mind, who's research show's that members of the emergency services are even more at risk of experiencing a mental health problem than the general population, but are less likely to seek support.'

The relay began in Blackpool in April before passing through Lancashire, the Peak District and then Yorkshire, taking in the Scarborough lifeboat station before arriving at the peak of Roseberry Topping. There the baton was handed over to Cleveland Police for the start of it's journey through the Teesside area. The torch's progress can be followed on twitter.com/OurBlueLight and more information on the Mind Blue Light Programme can be found at mind.org.uk/news-campaigns/campaigns/bluelight.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland