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Stalls by Tesco tip £1.5k mark

A November stall at the exit to Tesco in Abingdon raised £716 to go with the record £787 at the same store in January, making a grand total of £1,503 from just the one venue.

A hand putting money into an RNLI Lifeboats fundraising bucket

Chair Dave Thompson says: "We're stunned and so thankful to all those who have donated. It's a huge boost and the latest sum ensures we'll beat our £7K target for the year."

Volunteers Roger Battley, Ray Bell, Tim and Steph Hayes and new recruit Adrian Pitts ensured the stall on November 20 was on site for well over nine hours on a chilly, damp, blustery day.

Says Dave: "The weather failed to deter our volunteers or the pre-Xmas shoppers. The footfall was amazing and as ever there was that feeling of so much goodwill towards the RNLI and all it does."

Funds have also been boosted recently to the tune of £100 from collection boxes organised and collated by Bella Platt and Roger Watts.

Two stalls are set for the end of the year - by Tesco in Faringdon on December 7 and in Witney Market Square on December 14.

Says Dave: "It's great to have another Tesco to go to and I'm sure there'll be lots of support again."

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.