Get moving in December and help save lives with the RNLI Reindeer Run challenge

The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crews across Ireland and the UK are ready to answer the call for help this winter – but the charity needs your help too. This December the RNLI is once again challenging people to take part in the Reindeer Run by running, walking, jogging or rolling 24 miles to help raise vital funds - that’s one mile for every hour RNLI lifesavers are on call every day, even on Christmas Day.

Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge RNLI says, ‘Our crew is on-call 24/7 ready to answer calls for help this winter. It can be hard on our family and friends if we are called out to a rescue during a winter storm, or even halfway through Christmas dinner, but we’re ready to give our time to help save others.

‘Fundraising challenges like the Reindeer Run help to provide our training, equipment and lifesaving crew kit, and mean that we can help reunite more families this Christmas.’

Participants can tackle the distance any way they like – which could be covering one mile every day for 24 days or choosing to take part in multiple miles on different occasions.

Over the last five years, RNLI lifeboats have launched on average over 100 times during the Christmas period*.

If you’re ready to get involved this December, you can sign up now for free at RNLI.org/ReindeerRunChallenge. Every participant who raises over £125 will receive their very own exclusive Reindeer Run medal as a thank you for helping to support volunteer lifeboat crews. And every penny raised this Christmas goes directly to help the RNLI save lives at sea and on inland waters.

Ends

Notes to editors

· *Christmas period refers to 24 – December – 1 January

· The challenge takes place from 1 to 24 December

· Fundraisers can access free downloadable materials, to use anytime throughout the challenge, this includes from a Fundraising Guide, 24 day Challenge Tracker to social media resources.

· When each participant signs up this year, there is the opportunity to enter a prize drawn, to win a red YETI cooler box. The winner will be revealed in early December.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Chris Cathcart, Carrybridge RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07595895908, email [email protected] or Stephen Scott, Carrybridge RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07786228968, email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 087 1254 124 or [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information, please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea and on inland waters. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 10 lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland and in a normal year has 11 lifeguarded beaches which it operates seasonally. 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, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.