
Former F1 driver on the starting line for RNLI at London Marathon
Ex-Formula 1 driver Max Chilton is gearing up to run the London Marathon on Sunday in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity close to his heart.
The 31-year-old track star has a lifelong attachment to sailing and the sea. As a youngster he loved to watch RNLI lifeboats launch while on family holidays in Cornwall and now has friends on the volunteer crew at Rock RNLI, who will be rooting for him on the day.
Max said: ‘It’s one of those charities you hope to never have to use but one day it may save your children, your partner, your parents or your grandparents. I’ve never had to call on the RNLI, but you want to make sure that someone’s there to come and help you.
‘As the RNLI is a charity, it needs funding to help them save lives at sea, so it was an obvious choice for me when deciding which charity to support when running the London Marathon.’
Having broken the record for the hill climb at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2022 in an electric car, Max is hoping to clock up an impressive time of around 3h20m, despite suffering from a knee injury that prevented him from running in last year’s event in October 2022.
Despite the issue recurring slightly, the racing driver – who retired from competitive racing in 2021 – is feeling confident ahead of Sunday’s race, and is over halfway towards raising his £10,000 fundraising target on JustGiving.
RNLI Fundraising Director Jayne George said: ‘Max is a great example of how far our fundraisers are willing to go to support us.
‘Running a marathon is a big challenge and we’ll be rooting for him and all of our runners on the day.
‘The London Marathon is an iconic event, and I would like to thank all of those who have chosen to support the RNLI for their efforts to raise funds and engage the public in our mission.
‘The RNLI is proud of its long heritage and tradition of voluntary fundraising, and it is only thanks to thousands of people like Max, willing to go out of their way to raise funds, that we can continue to save lives at sea.’
Also covering the 26.2 miles in the capital – on a course that will take in Tower RNLI’s new lifeboat station on the Thames, the busiest in the UK – for the charity that saves lives at sea is RNLI Clacton-on-Sea volunteer crew member Allan Parker, who will – for the second year running – be taking on the race in his full lifeboat kit alongside fellow volunteer Louis Scott.
Trainee crew member at West Kirby RNLI was inspired to sign up to volunteer after deciding to run the marathon to raise funds for the charity. She is now training to join the crew and said that the marathon training is the perfect way to keep fit for the challenge of becoming an RNLI lifesaver.
Also running her first marathon for the RNLI is Ailsa Lyttle after the charity’s Cambeltown crew saved the life of her best friend. She said: ‘It’s going to be hard but it’s going to be worth it. Had it not been for the crew, my friend Gordon wouldn’t be alive today. I can’t believe the RNLI is a charity and I want to help raise awareness, and of course donations.’
Swapping her yellow wellies for running shoes in her 10th marathon for the charity is Largs RNLI volunteer Claire McRae. She said: ‘I’m really looking forward to this year’s London Marathon, it’s always an amazing experience, and knowing I am raising money for such a great cause makes it even more special.’
For those not running the marathon, the RNLI is urging the public to take part in the Mayday Mile fundraiser – taking on the challenge of covering a mile a day for the month of May. All money raised will help to provide the vital training and equipment that is needed to keep its lifesavers ready to answer the call to rescue.
The Mayday Mile takes place from Monday 1 May to Wednesday 31 May. Sign up and find out more at RNLI.org/SupportMayday today.
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.