Here is a heart-warming story of thanks involving an RNLI Shop Volunteer in Sheringham and a poorly boy in Somerset. It’s amazing just how special RNLI people are!:
To whom it may concern,
I have been watching “Saving Lives at Sea" showing the RNLI crew. I have great admiration for the people who risk their own lives to save others. I just need to tell you a story, which to me, as a mum, is quite amazing.
ln 2015 my son Joshua aged 8 was diagnosed with a cyst on his kidney. We have a friend, Mrs Margaret Gould who lives in Sheringham Norfolk and volunteers in the RNLI Shop and she asked the Helmsman to sign a lifeboat postcard to cheer Joshua up as he had to have an operation in Bristol children's Hospital.
Joshua received a little parcel which contained a lifeboat book signed by all the crew wishing Joshua well, this was a very emotional feeling to think that this crew who knew nothing about Joshua, but the messages were sincere and he felt so important he said “they don’t even know me Mummy but when I get better I want to see them.”
Joshua took his book to the hospital to show the staff. The operation unfortunately was not a success and within 2 months Joshua had to go back in to have a more serious operation. Joshua’s birthday was in July and all he wanted for his birthday was to have a visit to Sheringham and visit the crew, so we made the five hour journey from Somerset on the Saturday and went and visited the lifeboat centre on the Sunday, you would think Joshua and my other children Emily 10 and Thomas 5 were royalty.
They were shown all round the station and even got to sit in the lifeboat, tried on their kit and given gifts of key rings and postcards. As Joshua said it was one of the best days of his life so as his birthday approaches each year he asks if he can go to Sheringham to take cake to his RNLI family, it is such an important day for him as I am quite sure they helped to give him strength to fight and recover.
This has now become a yearly trip that Joshua looks forward to, so not only has the Sheringham crew saved life at sea they have definitely played a part in Joshua’s recovery. Sometimes people do not realise how their kindness touches the hearts of others, I will always be extremely grateful for a gesture which meant the world to Joshua, the team at Sheringham are an amazing bunch of people. Please find enclosed a picture taken by one of the Sheringham crew and sent to me of Joshua all kitted out.
Yours Sincerely
Lorraine Hunt
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Dick Grieve, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07884 495155.
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.
