
Seven-year-old supporter's 40-mile trek raised almost £3,000 for Hunstanton RNLI
A seven-year-old supporter who hopes to one day join a Norfolk lifeboat crew raised almost £3,000 for the charity that saves lives at sea.
He completed his four-day trek on 2 June, after the family braved heavy rain and gales along the way.
On Sunday, 30 June, the Hunstanton crew were on hand to welcome Johnathon back, as he presented a cheque for £2,922.02 to the station.
Water Safety Lead Kate Craven presented him with a special framed certificate in recognition of his achievement.
'We've been saving lives for 200 years and we couldn't carry on doing it without people like you,' said Kate.
She told Johnathon, who hopes to one day join the RNLI: 'You've got 11 more years and then you can do some of the other stuff we do, like saving lives.'
Asked what had inspired his impressive fundraising effort, the young supporter said: 'I like the yellow wellies, they drive boats and hovercraft and they save lives.'
Johnathon shook hands with volunteer crew members, who lined up to thank him for his efforts.
Proud mum Kayleigh said her son had originally planned to take things a little easier next year, with a coffee morning in aid of the RNLI.
But she added he has also mentioned taking on another trek, this time from Happisburgh lifeboat station, where his uncle Mark is a deputy launch authority, to Hunstanton - a distance of just over 50 miles along the Norfolk coast.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of both the founding of a lifeboat service at Hunstanton and the birth of the RNLI, whose work would not be possible without donations from its supporters.
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.