
Portpatrick and Stranraer RNLI crews welcome the RNLI – 911 Challenge.
Belinda and James from London are both big fans of the RNLI. Recently retired they decided to put their new found freedom to good use to support the RNLI in its 200th year.
They are raising funds for a relief D Class Lifeboat by driving clockwise around the whole of the British Isles and Ireland visiting all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations in 911 hours in their Porsche 911 car named Splash.
Belinda, James and Splash arrived at Portpatrick at 11.05am on Saturday 24 August 2024 where they were welcomed by crew, fundraisers and shop staff from both Portpatrick and Stranraer Lifeboat stations, before making their way to Stranraer Lifeboat station escorted on their way by the crew from Stranraer and their D class lifeboat Sheila MacDonald.
Belinda said, ‘The welcome at Portpatrick was as warm as the August sunshine that greeted us. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to meet us we loved it! Our RNLI 911 – Challenge is to raise funds for a relief D Class Lifeboat. The D Class lifeboats are involved in more than 60% of all RNLI rescues and in the words of Damien Bolton – helm at Port Isaac Lifeboat ‘the D Class is the workhorse and pocket rocket of the RNLI fleet’, so to have the Stranraer D Class there and to have it escort us onto their station was a masterstroke.’
So far the RNLI 911 Challenge has raised over £83000 you can support them by donating via their website rnli-911challenge.co.uk or to make a donation to the RNLI visit RNLI.org/support-us/give-money/donate
Notes to Editors
· Portpatrick Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1877. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to Portpatrick RNLI Lifeboat Station
· Stranraer Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1974 and celebrates it’s 50 year anniversary this year. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to Stranraer Lifeboat Station
· Click here to access the RNLI 200th anniversary media pack, which contains a selection of RNLI archive images from key points in the charity’s history, a RNLI history timeline, and a film of ‘200 years in 200 seconds’ – all of which can be downloaded.
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.