Olympian to start “Leg it for the Lifeboats” Fun Run on 2nd June 2019
Lytham St Annes RNLI Lifeboat is proud to announce that Dorothy Shirley, Olympic Silver Medal winner in the High Jump is to be the official starter for this years Fun Run
Dorothy, now Dorothy Shirley Emerson since her marriage, came second for Great Britain in the High Jump at the Rome summer Olympics in 1960. Her other achievements include a Bronze medal in the European Championships held in Stockholm in 1958 and a Silver for England in the British Empire & Commonwealth Games held in 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica.
After working in Australia for a short time, Dorothy returned to her home city of Manchester to work for the CWS. She later went on to train to become a P.E. Teacher and has always been involved and supported physical fitness in the younger generation.
Digby Moulden, Chairman of the Station Fund Raising Branch, said, “She is a lovely lady indeed who I believe turns 80 in May! She is delighted to have been invited to come to Lytham to start the event.”
This year’s Fun Run, or walk, or amble, or dog walk, or pushchair push, or wheelchair wheel, whatever you prefer, starts at the Inshore lifeboat house at 11am although participants have the opportunity for an organised warm up starting at 10.45am on Lytham Green under the guidance of instructor Lynsey Atkinson. The fully marshalled course finishes at the All-weather lifeboat house on South Promenade where refreshments will be available and an opportunity to see the new lifeboat Barbara Anne.
As always the idea is to give everyone an enjoyable day out as well as raise funds for the RNLI to help the sea charity save lives at sea. Entrance fees are £10 for adults and £5 for children (under 14 year olds must be accompanied by an adult). Registration for the event will take place at either boathouse from 9.30am and a free classic bus will be running between the two to save participants having to run / walk both ways. As usual, a tee shirt will be provided for participants.
Registration may also be done online at
www.lythamlifeboats.co.uk
or by phone on 0300 300 9902
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.