Annual Fundraiser called off in Aith
The Aith Lifeboat Gala has been cancelled for 2020
This year's event - scheduled to take place on Sunday 7 June - has been called off along with all other public gatherings due to the Coronavirus outbreak in Shetland.
The fundraising event has been running on an annual basis since 1972 and normally takes in around £6000 for the local RNLI station.
Organiser Frances Moffat, from the Aith Lifeboat Gala Committee, said that 'cancelling the event was a shame, but the only sensible decision under the current circumstances.
'The Gala is an important fundraiser for the Aith Lifeboat, which continues to do important work saving lives at sea. The RNLI is always grateful for the fantastic public support on show at the event. If possible, I would encourage folk to still make a donation to the charity.
'The Lifeboat Station is very important to people in Aith, and I'm confident that the community will continue to show its support in future years.'
Local fundraising events can be a key source of income for RNLI lifeboat stations. Volunteer crews remain on standby and ready to respond to emergencies at sea throughout the Coronavirus outbreak.
Donations to the RNLI can be made online here: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate
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
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
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.