
Volunteers row and cycle to celebrate birthday
Walmer RNLI celebrate the Institution’s 199th birthday with fundraiser.
A team of volunteers from across Walmer lifeboat station, their families, friends and members of the Deal Coastguard Rescue Team came together outside St George’s Church in Deal yesterday, Saturday 4 March to help celebrate the RNLI’s 199th Birthday and raise vital funds for the Institution.
The aim was to row and cycle 199 miles, one mile for each year of the Institution’s existence, and then a further 238 miles, one for each lifeboat station around the coast of the Britain and Ireland, a total of 437 miles.
Starting at 7.30am volunteers cycled and rowed the distance on static bikes and rowing machines in 8 hours and 52 minutes, equivalent to a journey from Walmer lifeboat station on the Kent coast to Eyemouth lifeboat station in the Scottish Borders.
Speaking after the event, co-organisers, helm Dan Sinclair and crew member Victoria Ward thanked all those who had taken part, including shop volunteers, fundraisers, the Face-to-Face team, shore and boat crew and the duty crew on standby in case of emergency calls, praising team spirit on a damp and chilly day. They also thanked the local community who really got behind the event and showed their support for their local lifeboat.
Notes to editors
Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.
It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Donald McLauchlan and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.
Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry
To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station
Photo 1 Stormy Stan, aka Walmer helm James Foster with crew members Ben Payne and James Brown.
Photo 2 Walmer crew and Coastguards checking distance covered.
Photo 3 Co-organiser and crew member Victoria Ward.
Photo 4 Co-organiser and Walmer helm Dan Sinclair.
RNLI media contacts
- Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 07785 296252, [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [email protected]
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.