Saving Lives at Sea inspires a 7-year-old to raise funds for her local Lifeboat
A seven-year-old with a love of the sea was inspired by watching the very popular TV program to raise funds for her local RNLI lifeboat station by selling off all her toys and teddies.
Seven-year-old Ella Cunningham from Sheerness said that because of her own love of the sea and watching so many people being rescued by the RNLI that she would like to raise some money for her local Lifeboat Station.
With this in mind Ella decided that she would have a Tombola stall at the popular Queenborough Harbour artisan market on August 21 this year. The prizes would be all her toys and teddies that she no longer plays with.
With mum Alana helping out, the youngsters efforts raised a brilliant £100 for the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat station.
Ella personally handed over the money to crew member Rachel Collier at ‘The Admirals Arm’ micro pub in Queenborough whose customers are themselves major fund raisers for the RNLI.
Sheerness RNLI spokesperson Vic.Booth said: ‘we should all be inspired by Ella’s efforts in what have been difficult times for everyone, including our crew members at the Sheerness Lifeboat station who have managed to provide life-saving cover 24 hours a day throughout the ongoing Covid pandemic, whatever restrictions have been placed on them. Thank you Ella from all at the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat station.’
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.