RNLI Wirral team members to tackle 108-mile endurance fundraising challenge

Now in its third year, the Rustman challenge is a coastal endurance challenge which will see participants attempt to cycle, swim and run their way from New Brighton Lifeboat station on the Wirral to Holyhead on Anglesey this Saturday (10 July). The 108-mile challenge draws its name from the infamous Iron man endurance event updated to accommodate the 37-67 age range of the participants.

The challenge was founded in 2018 by Chris Shaw and Richard Webster, both members of the Wirral’s RNLI Water Safety Team and combines their passion for endurance challenges with their desire to fundraise for the RNLI and help the charity to keep saving lives at sea.

The challenge returns this year after a break due to the Coronavirus Pandemic with 20 participants will be attempting to cover the distance from the New Brighton Lifeboat station on the Wirral to Holyhead station on Anglesey in just one day. Leaving the New Brighton station at 5am they will pass seven lifeboat stations along the coast, completing a total of 90 miles of cycling, 6 miles of swimming and a 12-mile run to the finish at Holyhead Lifeboat station around 9pm.

This year the participants will be accompanied by 10, mixed men and women relay teams, with a cyclist, swimmer and runner all tackling a stretch each. Between them all they are aiming to raise £15,000.

Co-founder Chris Shaw said:

‘This is the third year we have undertaken this enormous adventure. It will push us all to the limit, over some of the most testing natural obstacles our local environment can throw at us! But the breath-taking sandbank wilderness in the middle of the Dee and climatic panoramic views from Holyhead Mountain will spur us on to complete the challenge and raise vital funds for the RNLI’.

If you’d like to find out more about their challenge or donate to their efforts, please visit their Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rustman3?experiments=b2c_059_donate_to_yourself_v3&isMobile=false&successType=StaticDonateButtonClick

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For more information please contact Maddy Wright, Media Engagement Placement in Wales and the North West at [email protected] or on 07929659684 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 143,000 lives.

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.