Cullercoats RNLI fundraiser wins ITV Tyne Tees Pride of Britain Award
Fundraiser of Year is awarded to Kathy Blackman from North Shields.
On Friday 5th October, ITV Tyne Tees announced Kathy had won the ITV Tyne Tees Fundraiser of the Year Award, nominated by a member of the lifeboat's crew in recognition of her decades of support.
The judging panel chose Kathy from four finalists for the award, which is part of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Kathy has been fundraising since she was a little girl for the Cullercoats RNLI. She was inspired by an accident at sea in 1939 in which her lifeboat crew father was one of the lucky survivors.
ITV’s Ian Payne visited Kathy and the crew at the lifeboat station to present the award.
Anna Heslop, Cullercoats RNLI, said: ‘HUGE congratulations to our incredible Kathy Blackman who has won the Pride of Britain Award for Regional Fundraiser. We can’t contain our pride and excitement here at Cullercoats RNLI. Well done Kathy! What a fantastic achievement!’
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.