RNLI fundraiser Alex Ellis-Roswell reaches £50,000 and sets a new goal

Having been put up for the night previously in Cromarty, Alex set off mid morning making his way first through the coastal villages of Rosemarkie then Fortrose and Avoch before reaching Munlochy and finally making his way under the A9 and into the village of North Kessock. Arriving at Kessock lifeboat station just after 8pm where he was welcomed by the volunteer crew there.

As he left Cromarty in the morning his latest target of raising £50,000 was in sight. Offers of matching whatever was raised today as he walked along the roads towards Kessock were made so that the target could be reached.

Alex first started his journey on 3 August 2014 with an aim to raise as much money as possible for the RNLI, on what he anticipated would be a four-year project.

Alex from Margate in Kent has, so far, walked over 8,000 miles and soon smashed what became his first target of £10,000. His route sees him go clockwise around Britain and Ireland, including the Isle of Man, the Western and Northern Isles. As he left Wick lifeboat station and turned south, he described himself as being on the home straight despite still having 1,500 miles to walk.

After the passing of his father, Sir Raymond Ellis, at Christmas in 2013, Alex decided to walk the entire coast of Great Britain. He sold his business, gave up his flat and somewhat comfortable lifestyle, and set off on the journey of a lifetime. Before ill health, his father had spent much of his life dedicated to charity work and fundraising, which spurred Alex on to set himself a goal of raising £10,000 for the RNLI.

‘My dad’s ultimate stubbornness against what seemed to be a never ending cycle of illness, pain, operations and setbacks will always be a very personal inspiration to me’, said Alex, who has at times suffered with knee pain during his walk.

On reaching this latest target Alex said ‘I started off thinking about £10,000 then £20,000 then £50,000. I suppose reaching this target shows how well supported the RNLI is by the people, places and communities I’ve walked through, especially when for many people money is tight. The target now is £100,000. Any other target would seem a bit half-hearted, although this will be a really daunting target to reach’

Alex continued ‘I’ve got 6 months left to go down the east coast of Scotland, then England and through London. So I’m determined to see if the next target can be reached before I get home later this year’

After being fed and put up for the night by crew members from Kessock, Alex is making his way to Loch Ness lifeboat station and then onwards along the Moray coast to Buckie lifeboat station.

If you see Alex on your travels, with his yellow jacket, bulging backpack and RNLI collection tin, please give him your support, encouragement and even a donation.

You can follow Alex’s journey around the UK by visiting his Facebook page www.facebook.com/alexellisroswell or donate by visiting https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/longwalkround

Ends

Notes to Editors

Alex is available for interview and pictures.

Media contacts:

Dan Holland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Kessock, 07900 567 496 [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Public Relations Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07786 668903, [email protected]

Henry Weaver, RNLI Press Officer for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]

RNLI 24 hour Press Office, 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.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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