RNLI volunteer Laura Clarke receives an Excellence in Volunteering Award
Laura Clarke, RNLI fundraising volunteer, was presented with an Excellence in Volunteering Award by Jennifer Grey, RNLI Community Manager.
On Tuesday morning, 9 November, Laura Clarke, RNLI fundraising volunteer, was presented with an Excellence in Volunteering Award by RNLI Community Manager, Jennifer Grey. Laura was presented with her award at the annual Christmas card and gift sale and coffee morning, at Lough Derg Yacht Club.
Laura has been a volunteer on the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Committee for eleven years. Laura says that she became a volunteer because the ‘charity was one my late father loved and always supported, and it was something I wished to continue’. Laura recalled that Mr. Crawford had donated to Portrush lifeboat station for the build of their new lifeboat. In 2019 Laura organised a fundraising swim in memory of her father that raised significant funds for the RNLI.
As well as a long family association with the lifeboats, Laura’s husband Caleb is Honourary Treasurer for both Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Station and the Fundraising Committee, and her brother-in-law, Peter Clarke, was volunteer helm with the station for fourteen years.
In commending Laura for the award, Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, wrote ‘your productive, innovative and reliable attitude has not only optimised our fundraising opportunities at local events but throughout the pandemic has raised more than £2,000 in Christmas card and gift sales alone.’ This is an extraordinary achievement, as the pandemic has meant that the charity, funded entirely by public donations and legacies, has been unable to fundraise in the usual ways.
Of Laura’s hard work throughout these difficult past two years, Jayne George said that Laura’s enthusiasm and dedication ‘embodies the RNLI core values of being courageous, trustworthy, selfless and dependable’.
Laura says it is a 'great honour to be a part of an organisation that is such a force for good in the world. I’m thrilled to receive this award'.
Niamh McCutcheon, Chairperson of the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising branch and member of the Irish Council of the RNLI says that she is ‘delighted to see Laura’s commitment, dedication and significant efforts acknowledged with this award’.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 2004. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/lough-derg-lifeboat-station
- A photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat can be viewed at: https://www.facebook.com/RNLILoughDerg/
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547
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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 Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 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.