RNLI in Wales celebrates the ‘little things’ this St Davids Day
As 1 March approaches, the RNLI is paying tribute to Welsh supporters, who have followed the maxim of the patron saint of Wales St David in doing the ‘little things in life’ to help keep the RNLI charity afloat.
According to tradition, in his last sermon St David told his followers to ‘Do the little things’/ ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain’. The RNLI is today thanking supporters across Wales for the gestures which have meant so much to the lifesaving charity.
The RNLI is facing the Perfect Storm with a dip in funds and more people being rescued than ever before. This St Davids’ Day, the RNLI is saying thank you for the small gestures from kind-hearted people across Wales who are doing their bit to help RNLI volunteers continue saving lives at sea.
From schoolchildren in Moelfre inviting the crew into school to reveal they were naming the guinea pigs Enfys and Kiwi in honour of village’s lifeboats, to a couple from Llandudno forsaking anniversary gifts in lieu of a donation the RNLI, every bit helps.
The Moelfre crew were delighted to be invited into Ysgol Gymuned Moelfre to meet the cuddly pets and were touched by the gesture, which showed the children have such a close affinity with their lifeboats. In Llandudno, Allan Cuthbertson and his wife Cherie, life-long residents of Llandudno, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In lieu of presents they donated £350 to Llandudno, a gesture which was greatly appreciated by the volunteer crew.
In Pwllheli, future crew members Lily and Noah Green whose father Andy serves on the crew came up with an innovative way to help raise funds towards the station’s new boathouse. With the Shannon class lifeboat due to arrive later this year, the community launched an appeal to raise £50,000 and the young entrepreneurs quickly began making loom bands which they regularly sell to boost the fundraising drive.
Another young supporter is five-year-old Darcey Payne-Burgoyne, who regularly brings a smile to the faces of the Rhyl RNLI crew. After a grueling training exercise, Darcey is often waiting for her ‘heroes’ on the slipway on their return with much needed supplies of cakes and biscuits. Darcey recently donated her pocket money to boost the £150,000 community appeal towards the station’s new Shannon class lifeboat.
Also supporting the Rhyl RNLI crew by making small gestures was Brenda Lycett who kindly gave up birthday presents in favor of donations to her favorite charity, resulting in a £100 cheque for the station.
The RNLI is so very grateful to all those selflessly marking milestones by donating funds to help save lives at sea. Jenny Page touched volunteers in Barmouth when she decided to collect for the station during her wedding in lieu of presents. When she visited Barmouth to return the collecting box, the station’s treasurer was delighted to discover £450 had been collected.
In South Wales, a small gesture of opening up a famous house is going a long way to boost fundraising efforts. Barry Dock RNLI volunteers had the pleasure of meeting Glenda Kenyon the owner of the house featured in the popular TV comedy series Gavin and Stacey. Over a two year period Glenda had been collecting for the RNLI from fans of the TV show that had visited the property. She had raised in excess of £2000 in this period.
RNLI Lifesaving Manager Matt Crofts says:
‘As the RNLI is such a big organisation, people sometimes don’t see how their donation will make a difference. Our volunteer crew would not be able to continue saving lives if it were not for people making donations however big or small. Every penny really does count.
‘The RNLI is at the heart of communities and some of these kind gestures really show the close affinity communities have with their lifeboat stations. This St Davids Day we’d like to thank everyone for doing the little things and urge them to continue doing so and help us weather the storm.
‘We are exceptionally proud of all our volunteers across Wales who do a remarkable job in giving up their time whatever day of the year. It’s evident our supporters are doing their bit to show their gratitude to them. This St Davids Day we want to say ‘Diolch’ and show how much every bit of support, big or small is appreciated by our lifesaving charity.’
Notes to editors
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RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Danielle Rush, RNLI Media Relations Manager for Wales and the West on 07786 668829 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected].
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.
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