Setting out last Friday (17 July) Ben aimed to walk 21.1 miles on the streets of Lerwick, the equivalent distance between Lerwick and Aith lifeboat stations. Having averaged over five miles each day, his total distance completed today was 42.3miles – just over twice the distance between Lerwick and Aith.
Ben completed his walk at 17.10hrs today – the same time as the’17-10’ service number of Lerwick lifeboat – and arrived at the station to a noisy reception from family, friends and lifeboat crew.
Ben's father, Grant Masson and his grandfather John Best, are both volunteer crew members on Lerwick Lifeboat and along with other family members, have accompanied Ben each day this week during his walks. Ben set out to raise just £100 for the RNLI from his walk. Donations made on Ben’s Just Giving page have so far reached over £1700.
Malcolm Craigie, RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat Operations Manager, said –“Ben’s a total superstar and we’d like to say well done for his incredible effort, walking twice as far as he had planned to. The RNLI is a charity that exists entirely on donations to help us save lives at sea and on behalf of all the crew we’d like to say a huge thanks to Ben and his family who have supported him.”Ben has a Just Giving page set up where any donations can be made at:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bensshetlandlifeboatwalk
RNLI
Crew members John Best (left) and Grant Masson, with Ben Masson (front)
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.
