Volunteers celebrate 202nd Birthday of the RNLI

Starting at 7.00am and finishing at 5.00pm they covered 578 miles on static gym bikes and a rowing machine in the Undercroft at Deal Town Hall.

Organiser and Walmer helm Dan Sinclair said:’ I can’t praise enough the real team building effort of station volunteers, their friends and families for their encouragement and enduring support. Thanks also need to go to our fundraising team who collected donations, shop volunteers who ran a pop-up stall and Deal Coastguard for their participation in the event.’

He also wished to thank others who made the event a success - Deal Town Council for the continued use of the Town Hall, the early risers who arrived from 6.00am to set up and organising time slots, the leisure centre for providing the gym bikes, matting and safety kit, Deal Rowing Club for the loan of the rowing machines and Deal Radio for providing motivational music all day long and keeping us going through the tough times and for their continued support towards Walmer RNLI.

Further thanks were sent to The Kellet Gut Shantymen, who have shown support for many Walmer RNLI events over the years and performed a ninety minute set and the RNLI Face-to-Face Fundraisers who ran their stand all day.

Dan added: ’Finally, a huge thank you as always to the community of Walmer, Deal and the surrounding area for their love and support of Walmer RNLI.’

Later that evening, Fundraising Team Leader Paul Walker attended a presentation at the Royal Marines Association in Deal where he received a donation cheque for £500.00 from the Annual Deal Sergeant’s Mess Panto Production.

Donations from events such as these raise vital funds for the charity. It costs around £2,000 to kit out a single crew member and £1,400 per year in training costs. They go towards essential training and providing equipment to crew so they have the skills to keep themselves and others safe in whatever conditions they face and ensures that RNLI lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland are ready 24/7 whenever an emergency arises.

Notes to editors

Walmer lifeboat station was established in 1856.

It currently operates two inshore lifeboats – a B Class Atlantic 85 Hounslow Branch and a smaller D Class Duggie Rodbard II.

Crews have received 28 Awards for Gallantry

To find out more about Walmer lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/walmer-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station on 01304 374475 or 07906 623037 [email protected]

• Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead on 07827 358256 [email protected]

• Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager (London/East/South East) on 07724 801305 [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

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.