Eight-year-old Mason walks 100 miles and raises a huge £500 for RNLI Peterhead
Between home-schooling and spending time at home in lockdown, Mason Innes challenged himself to walk 100 miles to raise money for charity.
The eight-year-old, of Peterhead, not only completed his walk which is almost the equivalent of four marathons but raised a huge £500 for RNLI Peterhead.
Walking around 4-5 miles a day with his mum Robertamay Innes, her partner Gary Buchan and their dog Thanos, Mason soon racked up the miles and completed his 100th mile at Peterhead Lifeboat Station.
As the country went into lockdown, Mason’s school, Buchanhaven Primary, tasked the pupils to do something 100 times like Captain Tom and Mason chose to do a sponsored walk and donate the funds to Peterhead Lifeboat Station.
His mum Robertamay said: “We are really proud of him, he went way over his initial target and raised £500! We can’t believe how much people have supported him – we’re so grateful to everyone who donated.
“Gary’s Grandad volunteered with Peterhead Lifeboat in the 1990’s – that’s one of the reasons we chose to do a sponsored walk and donate to the funds to the Lifeboat Station.
“Allie Greig volunteered at the shed up until he was in his seventies. Gary would have visited the shed when he was Mason’s age. Back then the lifeboat was housed in the shed and Allie would open it up to show visitors around, sell souvenirs, keep the shed and lifeboat clean. He also volunteered to man lifeboat stalls during Scottish Week and other fundraising events, occasionally going out with the crew on the boat on exercises etc. He was made an honorary crew member and at his funeral in 2012, the lifeboat flag was draped over his coffin.
“To watch Mason complete this challenge, and for him to pick to raise money for the Lifeboat, has made us extremely proud. He has done brilliant.”
Mason completed his 100th mile at the Station, however unfortunately due to the current COVID-19 pandemic he could not have a tour of the lifeboat or the station or meet the whole Volunteer Crew.
Jurgen Wahle, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Peterhead Lifeboat, said: “We are extremely grateful to Mason for his kind donation. The RNLI is a charity so donations like these are beneficial to our crew, equipment and lifeboat and we’re delighted that Mason chose to support us to save lives at sea.
“Mason completed his walk at the Station, however when it is safe to do so we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to meet the crew, give him a tour of the Lifeboat and show him our equipment and how his hard-earned money can benefit the station. Hopefully we have a RNLI Volunteer in the making!”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Peterhead lifeboat station has been operating since 1865.The current Peterhead Lifeboat Station, the third built, was opened in 1999 and is staffed by one full-time RNLI employee.
- The Lifeboat, a Tamar-class RNLB Misses Robertson of Kintail, is berthed approximately 100 metres away.
- To learn more about the station, go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/peterhead-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Stacey Lynch, Peterhead Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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
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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.