North Berwick RNLI thank sponsored swimmers

Over two nights, 68 young swimmers aged between 7 and 15 pounded up and down North Berwick Leisure Centre’s swimming pool covering an impressive 4,592 lengths of the 25 meter pool. That’s an incredible 114.8km, with three individual swimmers managing to clock off at 3km each (120 lengths).

One of the RNLI’s volunteers who popped along to support the swimmers and deliver some water safety messages, Yvonne Fairholm said; “It was a really impressive sight, and the swimmers were all so enthusiastic! Stormy Stan, the RNLI’s mascot came along to thank the participants, he couldn’t believe how hard they had worked. The total raised is fantastic, as a charity the RNLI relies on community supporters like these young swimmers, we can’t thank them enough!”

Donations from fundraising events such as these are vital to sustaining the lifesaving work of the RNLI. Totals from 2024 are being finalised, and will be released soon, but in 2023 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and RoI launched 9,192 times saving 355 lives, RNLI Lifeguards saved a further 151 lives, North Berwick launched 21 times. Call out costs are one thing but it also cost £1,400 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help.

Sarah Paterson, Coach of North Berwick Swimming Club said; “I’m very proud of the swimmers for their amazing efforts. Many of them exceeded their goals and what we expected they might achieve. To raise over £2,800 is fantastic. North Berwick Swimming Club has benefited from the RNLI’s outdoor safety swim sessions, so it’s lovely to be able to support this charity that does so much in our local community.”

Quotes from swimmers:

“I was exhausted but proud.” Scarlett Paterson, age 10.

“I’m very happy I reached my goal. I felt a good sense of achievement.” Eilidh Mathie, age 10

“It was fun but tiring. We’re very happy that we can raise money for a good cause.” Edith Lowes, age 10

Notes to editors

• 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
• In 2022 it cost the RNLI £188M to run it’s charitable lifesaving service, 6 in 10 of the lifeboat launches were funded be generous supporters leaving the RNLI a gift in their will.

RNLI media contacts

Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [email protected]

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, X, TikTok 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.