Wirral kayakers raise £3,500 for Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI
Wirral kayakers raise £3,500 for Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI
Lifeboats News Release
Organisers of a Wirral community kayaking event have presented Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI lifeboat stations with a donation of £3,500 to support the charity’s lifesaving work at sea.
Wirral Kayak Challenge
The colourful flotilla of kayaks paddle past Hoylake RNLI lifeboat during the challenge
The donation was presented to volunteer crew members from the two Wirral lifeboat stations at an event on Saturday 19 October hosted by Whitt's End Wine & Cocktail Bar. Local children’s hospice Claire House was also presented with a donation for the same amount to support its work caring for seriously and terminally ill children and young people.
Founded in 2012 by Mike Dudley, the Wirral Kayak Challenge is a fundraising event that sees intrepid kayakers of all abilities taking to the sea for a 14-mile paddle, setting off from New Brighton and heading around Hilbre Island before returning to the shore at Thurstaston.
This year’s challenge took place on Sunday 28 July with dozens of kayakers taking part. Hoylake RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat
Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood took time out from a crew training exercise on the day to greet and support the colourful flotilla of kayaks on the first leg of its journey around the Wirral coast.
Following the presentation to the two charities, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Andy Dodd said: ‘The Wirral Kayak Challenge is a fantastic fundraising event that supports great local causes and encourages people to come together and enjoy our local coastline safely.’
‘We would like to thank the organisers and all of the kayakers who took part in the event for raising an incredible £3,500 for the RNLI. Their amazing efforts will help us to continue saving lives at sea.’
Notes to editors
Kayaking and canoeing are the most popular watersports in the UK and Ireland. For advice on staying safe around the coast while kayaking or canoeing, visit
RNLI.org/Kayaking
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Dan Whiteley, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07799 851 316 or [email protected]. Alternatively, call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected].
Wirral Kayak Challenge
The kayakers' donations are presented to Hoylake and West Kirby RNLI and Claire House
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.
