Be a lifesaver this summer – join the Brighton RNLI for a sponsored Mayday walk

The RNLI is holding a series of Mayday events throughout the month of May across the country to raise money so they can continue saving lives at sea.

In Brighton, the charity is hoping local people will come out in support of their life saving work by joining in a seafront walk starting at Hove Lagoon between 11am and 1pm on Saturday (May 14).

The walk will end at the lifeboat station at Brighton Marina and is approximately 4.5 miles long.

On the day there will be a check-in stall near the deep sea angling club, then checkpoints along the route and participants will get a medal from the shop at the end and can visit the visitors centre.

The link to sign up is here people can sign up before to raise sponsorship or just arrive on the day. Any donations given or money raised will go directly to helping keep local people and families safe this summer.

Already this year the volunteer crew at Brighton have been called out 22 times to people in danger.

Money raised through Mayday fundraising events like this one will make sure that RNLI lifesavers have everything they need to keep operating this summer. Every second counts when the water turns against you, and RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews will drop whatever they’re doing when a call for help comes in.

Ursula Nield, RNLI community manager in Brighton, said: ‘Summer is our busiest time of year, with thousands of people at risk of getting into danger by the water. Ordinary people just enjoying days out with family or friends.

‘Mayday is our own call for help, as we rely on the generosity of the public to join our events and raise the funds that allow us to be there when we’re needed most.

‘It’s going to be a lovely weekend and we hope the walk will be fun for friends, couples and families - a chance to enjoy our beautiful bit of coastline and to raise vital funds at the same time.’

Sign up now and find out more at rnli.org/SupportMayday

Notes to editors

For more information please contact volunteer lifeboat press officer Hatti Mellor on 07724 801305, [email protected] or the regional media officer Paul Dunt on 07785 296252 [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 143,000 lives.