Residents of Atlantic Rise in Bude raise £500 for the RNLI

Bude's lifeboat weekend is usually held over August bank-holiday weekend with the main event, Lifeboat Day, taking place on bank holiday Monday. It is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Bude RNLI and a fantastic weekend for locals and tourists alike.

The residents at Atlantic Rise were disappointed when they realised that Covid-19 would prevent them from enjoying the entertainments usually offered. Atlantic Rise is perched on the edge of the Downs between Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches and its residents have a privileged view of the life-saving demonstrations that normally take place on Lifeboat Day and it is only a short stroll for them to join in all the Lifeboat Weekend fun centred around the castle lawn and the Wharf.

After realising that their local RNLI branch was being deprived of most of its summer fundraising opportunities, they decided to do something to help.

The Atlantic Rise residents set about raising funds in-house, requesting donations from each other for hand-made lavender bags, fabric shopping bags and craft items. They held three Sunday teas throughout August selling homemade savoury food and sweet treats along with BBQs and cream teas that were served to residents in the communal lounge or gardens.

They concluded the August activities by holding their very own 'Lifeboat Day' with a nautical quiz and even a table-top duck race.

When all the donations were counted the residents had raised an amazing total of £400 and then a generous donation from Pegasus, the management company of Atlantic Rise, rounded the donation up to a grand total of £500.

Robin Bale, Deputy Launching Authority (DLA), who met two of the residents to accept the donation, said, 'The amount raised by the residents of Atlantic Rise is a fantastic achievement, especially given that it is only a small complex of apartments. Everyone at Bude RNLI is incredibly grateful for their efforts and we hope that they had a lot of fun raising the money.'

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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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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