Beth’s back – with another donation
One of Minehead lifeboat station’s youngest supporters has collected more money for RNLI funds - and travelled 60 miles to make a personal delivery.
Nine-year-old Beth Williams, from Bruton – described by her family as a ‘fanatical’ lifeboat supporter – handed over £350 to the station on Sunday.
The money was raised through sponsorship and donations after she persuaded staff at Bruton primary to organise a ‘wear your wellies to school’ day as part of the RNLI’s Yellow Welly fund-raising drive in May.
For Beth, her parents Dave and Sarah and sister Sophie it was a second visit to the station. Last November they travelled down so Beth could hand station officials £150 she raised by doing a sponsored swim.
Her interest in the lifeboat service started when she chose the RNLI as the subject of a school project about charities.
Mum Sarah said: “Since then she has been absolutely mad about lifeboats.
“Wherever we go on holiday she insists on going to the lifeboat station to see the boat: she’s a really devoted supporter.”
Minehead RNLI chairman Bryan Stoner said the station was proud to have such
a devoted and loyal donor.
“Beth’s a real example to the younger generation and we really are thrilled to count her as one of our faithful fund-raisers,” he said.
“The great challenge we face in the institution is getting people, particularly people of Beth’s age, to realise that we can only continue to provide 24-hour life-saving cover around the coasts of the UK and Ireland as long as the public continues to support us.
“We are delighted that Beth is helping us to get that message out.”
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.