Donate now

Porsche 911 pit stop at Fowey RNLI on fundraising journey to buy a lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday 22 September volunteer members of Fowey RNLI welcomed the RNLI-911 2024 challenge team to Fowey lifeboat station.

Fowey RNLI

Fowey lifeboat crew with their D class and 'Splash' the 911 Porsche challenge car

Belinda and James Richardson are driving over 8,000 miles in their challenge 911 Porsche Carrera, named Splash, around the whole of the UK and Ireland, visiting all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations within 911 hours.

They started their challenges back in 2018 with the aim of raising funds via sponsorship and donations specifically to buy a relief D class lifeboat in celebration of the RNLI's 200th Anniversary in 2024! They have so far raised over £83,000 and hope to reach their target of £110,000 by the end of 2024.

Belinda is a big fan of both the RNLI and Porsche Carreras, she told the crew: 'Both the Porsche 911 and the D class lifeboat first went into production in 1963. The D class is the same length and the same width as a Porsche Carrera and when we buy the relief D class lifeboat it will be given the number 911, which needed special permission from the RNLI, as it is out of the normal numbering sequences allocated to new lifeboats.'

The Fowey lifeboat crew couldn’t resist the opportunity to get the Fowey D class lifeboat out of the boathouse for a very special photo opportunity with Splash!

During their pit-stop visit, Belinda and James presented the crew with a limited edition ‘Top Trumps’ game which they devised using facts gathered about all the RNLI lifeboat stations during their challenges. They were joined by two of their fundraising sponsors, who presented the crew with a special edition 911 challenge jigsaw puzzle.

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.’

You can find out more about the 911 challenge at www.rnli-911challenge.co.uk and about the D class inshore lifeboats at https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/d-class-lifeboat

Fowey RNLI

Fowey RNLI

Fowey RNLI

Belinda and James with 'Splash' and Fowey crew

Fowey RNLI

Fowey RNLI

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.

Categories