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RNLI Porsche 911 Challenge visits Newbiggin RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

An adventurous couple who plan to visit all UK and Ireland RNLI stations in their Porsche 911 to fund a new lifeboat called at Newbiggin today (Tuesday 10 September).

The eye catching Porsche 911 car in front of the boathouse.

RNLI/Richard Martin / Mark Pearson

The Porsche 911 car at Newbiggin.

Belinda and James Richardson are aiming to complete their 8500 mile challenge of visiting all 238 stations in just 911 hours with Newbiggin included in their east coast itinerary. They were welcomed by some of the volunteer team as well as looking around the boathouse and partaking the homemade cakes and refreshments.

Their goal is to raise enough funds to buy a new D class lifeboat for the RNLI relief’s fleet so far raising £83,000 of their target of around £100,000.

Belinda and James, whose appreciation for the RNLI came after owning a boat on the River Thames 20 years ago, began their epic 8,500-mile journey in Morecambe, Lancashire at 9.11am on 23 August and plan to complete their gruelling journey at the same time at Peel, Isle of Man, on 30 September 2024.

Calling at Newbiggin, which operates an Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Belinda said there were many similarities between the Newbiggin orange lifeboat and their eye-catchingly branded Porsche 911 car – nicknamed Splash – which bears the names of RNLI stations and sponsors.

After presenting the station with a specially designed jigsaw and Top Trumps-style cards which feature call out statistics for all stations, the couple bade farewell for the next leg of their journey south to Blyth.

Jayne George, RNLI Director of Fundraising, said: ‘We are so grateful to Belinda and James for taking on this huge challenge and look forward to welcoming them at all of our lifeboat stations around the coast.

‘We are only able to save lives at sea thanks to the generous support of people taking on challenges like this, and we’re honoured Belinda and James have decided to raise even more money to fund a new D class inshore lifeboat.

‘In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and helped 2,028 people in difficulty. Belinda and James’ 911 challenge will help continue that lifesaving legacy.’

To donate to their challenge, visit https://rnli-911challenge.co.uk/

RNLI Media contacts

For more information please telephone Richard Martin, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Newbiggin on 07980 010544 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

If you would like to find out more about Newbiggin lifeboat station, its volunteers and its heritage then please take a look at the local website.

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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