A couple driving a Porsche-911 will start their fundraising tour of RNLI Lifeboat stations around Scotland from Lerwick lifeboat station this Friday (23 August)
RNLI/Bob Kerr
RNLI 911 Challenge fundraisers James and Belinda Richardson visited RNLI Lerwick lifeboat station in August 2018
Retired couple James and Belinda Richardson aim to drive around the whole of Scotland visiting all 77 RNLI Lifeboat stations, past and present, starting at Lerwick Lifeboat station on 9.11am on Friday 23rd August 2019.
After setting off from Lerwick, they expect to cover 2,800 miles, driving anti-clockwise around the coastline of Scotland over the next 19 days, completing their journey at Kirkwall Lifeboat Station at 9.11am on Wednesday 11th September.
In 2018, James and Belinda completed a tour of all 238 RNLI Lifeboat stations around the British Isles and the Republic of Ireland, starting and finishing at Tower RNLI Lifeboat Station in London.
For each of the next four years they will be completing tours around selected regions of the UK, before attempting another British Isles and Ireland tour again in 2024, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. The donations raised by the challenge will be put towards buying a ‘D’ Class inshore lifeboat by 2024.
Darren Harcus, Coxswain of Lerwick Lifeboat said: 'We hope to give James and Belinda a good send off on their Scottish adventure to raise funds that will help the RNLI to continue to save lives at sea. We’d be very pleased to see anyone who wishes to come along on Friday morning to cheer them on their way.'
After leaving RNLI Lerwick lifeboat station, James and Belinda will also be at RNLI Aith lifeboat station in Shetland from 9.45am until 11.30am.
For more information on the challenge and donate, please look up:
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 01738 642986, 07920 365929,
[email protected]
Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642956, 07826 900639,
[email protected]
RNLI 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.
