Portrush RNLI congratulates Fundraiser becoming a Platinum Champion

The teams at Portrush RNLI were delighted to hear that one of their fundraisers, John Martin was chosen as one of the 490 Platinum Champions due to his outstanding commitment to volunteering.

The Platinum Champion Awards were launched by the Royal Voluntary Service of whom The Duchess of Cornwall is the President to celebrate extraordinary volunteers Individuals and organisations were asked to nominated people who go the extra mile and deserved to be recognised in Her Majesty’s Jubilee year.

John was nominated by Nuala Muldoon, RNLI Community Manager, Northern Ireland

John has been coming to Portrush on holiday for many years, and when he moved here 10 years ago, he called into the Lifeboat Station to see if he could contribute in any way, and that’s where it all began.

Since then, John has been an integral part of the Fundraising team, even going so far to having his head shaved in public to raise funds. At that stage and during the pandemic John was Chairman of the Fundraising team, and in April 2022 took over as the Lifeboat Shop Manager, bringing energy and innovation to the RNLI shop.

During the pandemic members of the public couldn’t come into the shop so John and his team took the shop in the form of a gazebo outside the Lifeboat Station in all weathers!

The ’Pop Up Shop” became a fixture outside the Lifeboat station and became a real focal point for people walking to and from the Harbour. As well as raising much needed funds for the station, the gazebo also helped raised awareness of the RNLI.

Beni McAllister Lifeboat Operations Manager said: -

The team at Portrush RNLI are delighted that John has been recognised in this way. He has been a real powerhouse in terms of keeping the shop going during the pandemic and exploring other ways of raising funds for the station during a very difficult time. We look forward to presenting him with his badge and certificate at a ceremony at the station’

Ends

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 142,700 lives.

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