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Stornoway RNLI supported by 841-mile fundraiser

Lifeboats News Release

New Year’s Day 2024 saw a group of fantastic folks kick off a year-long virtual Land’s End to John O’Groats 841 miles challenge, fundraising for Stornoway RNLI in celebration of the RNLI charity’s 200th anniversary.

Stornoway RNLI

Swimmer Colin S Macleod finishes his 841 miles Land’s End to John O’Groats on Saturday 31st August at The Briaghe. Pictured (l-r): David Evans; Jane Maciver, with Dooker the Dog; member of the Scottish RNLI Council John J MacLennan, with grandson Daniel; swimmer Colin S Macleod; Stornoway RNLI Chairman John MacDonald, and Stornoway RNLI crew DK MacDonald.

Having completed their feats early, the 2024 Stornoway RNLI Land’s End to John O’Groats team are set to keep going, onto Orkney and then Shetland, rounding the mileage up to an amazing 1,000 miles!

The ‘2024STYRNLILEJOG’ team comprises of Jane Maciver (walking); Paul Finnegan (running); Donald Smith (cycling); Ginzia Zingone (triathlon); David Evans (triathlon); Malcolm Dalzel-Job (triathlon), and Colin S Macleod (swimming).

Each member has dedicated their free time and energy to individually clock up the Land’s End to John O’Groats 841miles – with Colin completing the final miles of his virtual ‘length of the country’ swim on Saturday August 31st. From his first swim on January 1st, Colin took 242 individual swims to complete the 841miles, taking a total of 466 hours and 11 minutes, or 19 days, 10 hours and 11 minutes!

'2024 marks the RNLI’s 200th anniversary and we’re raising funds for the Stornoway RNLI Station on the Isle of Lewis,' said Colin.

'Thank you very much to everyone who has donated and supported us so far. We’ve decided to carry on to Orkney and Shetland which will round up the overall distance to 1,000 miles,' he continued, adding: 'Another 159 miles to go from John O’Groats to Shetland!'

You can find out more about 2024STYRNLILEJOG on the challenge website at: www.2024styrnlilejog.weebly.com or on the challenge Facebook page ‘2024STYRNLILEJOG (www.facebook.com/groups/867843027996229/), or support and donate via the Justgiving page at: www.justgiving.com/page/2024styrnlilejog

· ENDS

Notes to editors

· Stornoway lifeboat station has been operating since 1887. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stornoway-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

Eilidh Whiteford, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Tom McGuire, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland and Ireland, 00353 87 476 4436, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789

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.

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