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Marathon cycle ride by Margate lifeboat crew members raising funds for the RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Two crew members from Margate RNLI lifeboat station have completed a marathon 124 mile cycle ride visiting Kent’s nine lifeboat stations as part of the charity’s annual ‘Reindeer Run’ fundraising event.

David Pike (L) and Keith Patrick (R) prepare to leave for Ramsgate (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

David Pike (L) and Keith Patrick (R) prepare to leave for Ramsgate (RNLI Margate)

The annual fundraiser involved RNLI volunteers and full-time staff taking part in a relay by whatever means including cycling and walking between Kent’s nine lifeboat stations from Gravesend to Dungeness. Keith Patrick and David Pike, volunteer lifeboat crew members at Margate are also keen road cyclists and decided to cover the whole route from Gravesend to Dungeness, a distance of 124 miles.

They set out at 5am from Gravesend and after stops at Sheerness and Whitstable the Margate team arrived at the town’s lifeboat station five hours later for an extended ‘fuel stop’ where they were greeted by other members of the crew, fundraisers, families and supporters. They were given a ‘blue light’ escort from Birchington to Margate and onwards to Ramsgate by Margate Coastguard Rescue Team and soon after Keith and David left for Ramsgate, the Whitstable team of four cyclists completed their leg to Margate where again they were provided with refreshments before returning home. At the same time, Thanet RNLI volunteer fundraising lead Sarah Hewes set out on her own stage from Margate to Walmer via Ramsgate walking and using public transport drawing attention to the contribution disabled people make to the life-saving charity’s work.

After stopping at Ramsgate, Walmer, Dover and Littlestone the Margate team completed the course at Dungeness some eleven hours after setting out, clocking up 8 hours, 37 minutes and 21 seconds saddle time. The individual station relay teams completed their course a few hours later. Two RNLI chase vehicles, one manned by members of Margate lifeboat team provided safety cover for the event and two trackers allowed supporters to monitor the two groups progress online. Currently just over £2,000 has been raised by the combined lifeboat stations and donations can be made at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnlimargate?utm_source=copyLink&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=rnlimargate&utm_campaign=pfp-share&utm_term=2fbd7bfaf9ff477bb2bcc0370545f1bd or via each lifeboat station’s individual facebook page.

Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, RNLI Margate said: “A lot of preparation went into the logistics of this fundraiser by all the stations involved and we are particularly proud and in awe at the effort put in by Keith, David and Sarah from the lifeboat station here and the Thanet fundraising team. We are also grateful for the donations received so far and the backroom support from the crew, fundraisers and participants families.”

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone:

· Peter Barker, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07974 064304 or [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825 or [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Sarah Hewes, Thanet RNLI Fundraising Group Lead (RNLI Margate)

RNLI Margate

Sarah Hewes, Thanet RNLI Fundraising Group Lead (RNLI Margate)

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, Twitter 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.

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