Alison Rennie's fundraising walk takes her higher than Everest for Oban RNLI

Alison Rennie, Oban Lifeboat’s Fundraising Secretary set out to complete her daily exercise during the lockdown in May, by walking to the top of Battleship hill, in Oban. Alison, who describes herself has a 70 year old chronic asthmatic, said “I need to strengthen my lungs to help give me a fighting chance against Covid-19. Arthritis in my knees has stopped me keeping fit by mountaineering but I can get my daily exercise walking.”

Alison decided to turn her daily exercise into a fundrasing appeal for the RNLI. “We would normally be very busy at this time of the year, supporting the charity’s national campaigns to raise funds. Sadly all of this has stopped but if I can get some supporters to encourage me by making a donation to Oban Lifeboat I can generate some funds for the RNLI in a difficult year!”

On completing her walk today (Sunday 31 May) Alison has climbed higher than the 8,848m to Everest’s summit. Alison said “That's it, over 8,900m since lockdown started! My initial idea was just to try to get a bit fitter to help avoid the worst consequences of the virus if I get it. I've certainly got fitter but - maybe more important - with the help of my supporters, I've done something useful to others, raising over £400 for the RNLI.”

It’s an amazing achievement and the money raised will be very gratefully received.

Looking ahead to June, lifeboat stations around the country would usually be preparing to open their doors to the public for their annual open days. Sadly any plans have had to be put on hold, but Oban lifeboat plans to deliver a ‘virtual’ open day through their Facebook page.

Leonie Mead, Oban Lifeboat’s Press Officer explained “Our Open Day was scheduled for the 20th June, sadly this won’t be possible, so we’ve decided to get creative and think of ways to bring our Open Day to our supporters.”

“Through our Facebook page we will effectively be holding a virtual Open Day, for the entire month of June. We will be hosting various competitions including RNLI themed baking, colouring in and a guess the weight of a lobster competition. All will be held and judged digitally from the safety of our own homes, and there are RNLI themed prizes too. We’ll also be sharing some video tours of our lifeboat the ‘Mora Edith MacDonald’ and we have a lifeboat themed board game lined up too.”

“We know that social media isn’t for everyone, we are used to welcoming supporters face to face. But for now, we hope this will bring some of the spirit of our usual Open Day to our supporters in their own homes and hopefully raise some money in the process. We have set up a fundraiser on our Facebook page where supporters can donate straight to the RNLI. Our Open Day would usually see us raise around £2,500, and, given the current situation, every penny really does count. As the RNLI is a charity relying on the support of the public to enable them to continue saving lives at sea, any amount raised would be gratefully received.”

If anyone would like to support our Virtual Open Day with a donation outwith Facebook, our Treasurer, Lachie Beaton (07467 020516) can supply further information. Full details along with how to enter competitions can be found at www.facebook.com/rnliobanlifeboat