Going the extra mile to give back to the local community

The RNLI’s Mayday campaign launches on Saturday 1 May and runs throughout the month. Lifesavers in the south west are calling on supporters to join the Mayday Mile and cover at least one mile in any way they chose and raise vital funds to keep people safe on our coastline.

Teresa has decided to take the challenge a step further. Starting on the first of the month, Teresa plans to walk at least one mile every day in May with a grand finale on the 31st. Teresa is partially disabled and uses the aid of a walker to help her get around. This challenge will be a real feat for her, but she’s determined to see it through;

‘To me, volunteers at RNLI Weymouth are lifesavers. Seeing the work they do gave me a new purpose and I want to give back in any way that I can’.

As well as bringing in donations, Teresa wants to raise awareness of the charity and the work of the crew members. On her daily walks she will carry a RNLI yellow wellington boot and a homemade poster, so any passers-by can donate.

Teresa has grown up around Weymouth her whole life. She has strong connections to the coast and the local fishing community, ‘The sea is very unpredictable – you’ll never know when you may need the help of the RNLI’she said. Teresa began her RNLI volunteering journey by helping to organise a Lifeboat week fundraising event. She then became a volunteer in the RNLI shop and joined the fundraising committee, and the rest is history.

Teresa is now the head of fundraising at RNLI Weymouth, leading by example she hopes to inspire others to answer the RNLI’s Mayday call for help; ‘As head of fundraising (Weymouth RNLI) I had to do something. You’ve got to get out there and do it yourself.’

Donations can be made to Teresa’s JustGiving page here

Notes to editors

· Teresa plans to upload daily ‘selfies’ of her walks on the Weymouth RNLI Facebook page: here

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Media Engagement Officer, on [email protected] or 07472979209 or Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager on 07920818807 or [email protected], please call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected].

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

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.