Hunstanton crew welcomes couple on a mission to visit all 238 RNLI stations

Lifelong RNLI supporters Allan and Helen Thornhill set off from their home in Gatwick, Surrey, on 1 June.

They aim to visit all 238 of the charity that saves lives at sea's lifeboat stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland.

Their eight-year-old Toyota RAV4, which they hope will survive the challenge, brought them to Hunstanton RNLI on Sunday 21 July.

'We're really into the RNLI,' said Allan, a 57-year-old charity worker. 'We've been life-long supporters.

'We woke up one morning and decided we wouldn't mind seeing all 238 stations.'

The couple were given a tour of the Hunstanton station and watched a net recovery of its inshore lifeboat, Spirit of West Norfolk, from the Ops Room.

Personnel told how their lifesaving work would not be possible without the kindness of those who donate or leave legacies to the RNLI.

With just over 200 stations to go, the couple expect their mammoth trek to take another two years to complete.

They hope to raise £2,380 for the RNLI along the way, via their Justgiving page.

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 142,700 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.