Walmer RNLI volunteer completes London Marathon in full kit – raising £5,000
Volunteer helm Dan Sinclair and his friend Nathan Siddans have successfully completed the London Marathon in full RNLI inshore lifeboat kit, finishing the 26.2-mile course in 6 hours 40 minutes and raising more than £5,300 for the RNLI.
The pair took on the challenge on Sunday (April 26), when warm temperatures reached 20c, wearing full operational kit - including thermals, drysuits with inbuilt boots, lifejackets and helmets.
Their marathon effort follows their earlier success at the Deal Half Marathon, where they completed the course in 2 hours 15 minutes.
Dan, who has volunteered at Walmer RNLI for 18 years, said: ‘Crossing the finish line along the Mall in full kit was an incredible feeling. It was one of the toughest things we’ve ever done, the heat worked against us on the day, but knowing it’s all for the RNLI kept us going every step of the way.
‘We had friends and family cheering us along the route which boosted our energy and morale during the tough times and we kept each other going.
‘We are absolutely blown away by the support and generosity we’ve received.’
Nathan added: ‘This run tested us physically and mentally, all the runners on Sunday did an incredible job – and gave us so many supportive comments along the way. The crowds and the support we’ve had throughout this challenge made a huge difference.’
Dan and Nathan are no strangers to extreme fundraising efforts. In October 2025, they raised £16,000 by cycling 1,000 miles from John o’Groats to Land’s End and climbing the UK’s three highest peaks.
To support Dan and Nathan, visit:
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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.
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