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Hospital Catering Association fundraisers return to Lyme Regis RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

In August two walkers from the Hospital Caterers Association (HCA) visited Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station on completion of their sponsored walk from Abbotsbury. Yesterday evening (10 October) HCA members returned to make a sizeable donation raised from this and other fundraising activities.

RNLI/Nick Marks

HCA Fundraisers present cheque for £6200 to Lyme Regis RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew

Since April this year HCA members have been collecting for the RNLI. Fundraising activities have included a raffle and auction at their annual forum in Birmingham, collection buckets and the RNLI’s ‘Betty’s Pots’ small change collection scheme, as well as sponsored challenges such as the walk from Abbotsbury. In all the HCA has raised an impressive total of £6200 for the RNLI.

HCA South West’s fundraising organiser Jane Wills and Abbotsbury walker Nick Cryer met with the volunteer lifeboat crew at Lyme Regis RNLI to make the final donation. Jane said, ‘Our South West region stretches from Gloucestershire to Cornwall with many hundreds of miles of coastline which means that our members are never very far from the sea. We chose the RNLI as our charity to support this year in recognition of the vital lifesaving work their volunteer crews do in all weathers and at any time of day or night.’

Tim Edwards, senior helm at Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station welcomed the HCA’s donation. He said, ‘This was an impressive effort by HCA members to raise £6200 for the RNLI. Our charity relies on donations such as this to fund our lifesaving work around the coast.’

Notes to editors

The Hospital Caterers Association is the single largest group of healthcare catering providers within the NHS and is the recognised voice of hospital catering. It represents catering managers who provide a wide range of food and other services for patients, visitors and staff in NHS hospitals and healthcare facilities. The HCA is a national organisation, with 15 branches throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and more than 250 hospitals represented in its membership.

Phot 1. HCA Members Jane Wills and Nick Cryer presenting their donation of £6200 to volunteer crew at Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat station. Photo credit – Nick Marks

Contact Details

Nick Marks, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer Lyme Regis RNLI. Telephone 07568 187582


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.

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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.