Cousins Ivie and Isla complete their RNLI MayDay Mile Charity Fundraiser in Exmo
The two intrepid young cousins who set their sights on completing a full mile along Exmouth seafront to raise funds for the lifesaving charity in the RNLI MayDay Mile challenge, proudly fulfilled their pledge this afternoon.
A mayday call is the most urgent plea RNLI lifesavers receive, and is used when life is in immediate danger.
Usually our lifesavers answer calls for help. But today, with a busy summer on the horizon, it's they who need YOUR help.
The RNLI are expecting more families than ever to book holidays in the UK and Ireland this year. People are excited to get away – and that’s how it should be. But it’s so easy to get into trouble by the water. For walkers to get cut off by the tide. For a paddling child to be swept out to sea. A pet dog to tumble down a cliff.
The RNLI are raising funds to keep our local lifesavers fully equipped to deal with these emergencies – and come home safe themselves. With a year of Coronavirus restrictions disabling our fundraising events, it’s never been more important for our charity to continue its quest to save lives at sea.
That’s why two youngsters, Ivie Simkiss-Cowtan, aged 3 years, from Exeter and Isla Cowtan, 5 years old from Worcester, decided to take part and complete a full mile along Exmouth seafront as part of the annual RNLI Mayday challenge.
They set off at 2pm today, Sunday 30 May 2021, supported by their families and many Exmouth RNLI volunteers and members of the public who came along to cheer them on their way. They started from Exmouth Lifeboat Station and completed the distance a short time later amid much excitement and applause.
Des White, Chair of Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Team, who presented both girls with special RNLI Crew Teddy Bears, said, “I struggled to keep up with these two keen young athletes as they completed what for them was a very long way. They did so well and have raised an enormous sum for our lifesaving charity. Thank you Ivie and Isla and grateful thanks to everyone who has kindly donated to our MayDay Mile Fundraiser this year, the support has been amazing.“
The two girls have already raised over £874 for the lifesaving charity, but you can still help Ivie and Isla raise even more by sponsoring them. Simply complete an all important donation on their official RNLI fundraising page below, and if you are able to ‘Gift Aid’ your contribution, so much the better.
https://themaydaymile.rnli.org/fundraising/ivie-simkiss-cowtans-fundraising-page
The RNLI MayDay Mile fundraising initiative is an annual event and this year, Exmouth has done extremely well with several events staged in support of the charity. The current figures raised overall in Exmouth are :
Exmouth RNLI Crew Dougie Wright & Geoff Mills ’72 for 72km’ relay : £4,000
Ivie & Elsa’s MayDay Mile : £874
Exmouth Tesco MayDay Fun Run : £380
Des White,Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Chair ‘at least a mile a day’ : £260
Total £5,514
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.