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Hunstanton crew trumped by couple visiting every RNLI station in their Porsche

Lifeboats News Release

A couple visiting all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations trumped a Norfolk lifeboat crew when they called in to see them on 12 September.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Belinda and James Richardson after arriving at Hunstanton lifeboat station
Belinda and James Richardson, from London, are travelling 8,500 miles in their Porsche 911, hoping to visit all 238 lifeboat stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland in 911 hours.

After starting in Morecambe, Lancs, on 23 August, the pair visited Hunstanton lifeboat station, where the crew were waiting to greet them on their 120th stop on their way to Peel, on the Isle of Man, where they hope to complete their journey on 30 September.

After completing a similar challenge which raised £83,000 last year, the Richardson's hope to hit their fundraising target of £110,000 to buy a relief D class lifeboat for the charity that saves lives at sea on this year's run.

'Our target is £110,000 and at the end of last year's challenge we'd raised just over £83,000,' said Belinda.

'We'll announce how much we've raised when we get to the Isle of Man, but we've got everything crossed.'

The couple presented hovercraft commander Charlie Parfitt with one of the specially-made jigsaws they are handing over to every station along the way.

Up in the Ops Room, Charlie presented the couple with a Hunstanton Lifeboat Crew polo shirt, before James and Belinda put their cards on the table with another gift - a Top Trumps-style card game called Top Shouts, featuring all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations and their stats.

Crew members soon had the cards out, before helm Jon Butler came up trumps with the station's card.

James and Belinda's next stop is Wells lifeboat station, as they continue their journey clockwise around the coast.

Notes to editors

For more on the couple's challenge, visit https://rnli-911challenge.co.uk/

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, North and East on 07824 518641, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

James and Belinda Richardson pictured at Hunstanton RNLI with crew members, their Porsche and a Porsche belonging to supporters Andy and Marian Willis, from Northampton

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hovercraft commander Charlie Parfitt presents the Richardsons with a Hunstanton RNLI Crew polo shirt

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton RNLI crew members get stuck into the Top Shouts card game

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Hunstanton's card in the Top Shouts game

RNLI/Chris Bishop

James Richardson presents hovercraft commander Charlie Parfitt with one of the Richardsons' special jigsaw puzzles for the crew room

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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