Portaferry RNLI lifeboat crew meet kayakers taking on May fundraising challenge

The club which has a base in Killyleagh, and Groomsport, hope to paddle 31 miles, one mile for each day in the month of May, and have already raised over £1000.

Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat helm Scott Blackwood commented: 'It has been great to meet the members of Belfast Kayak Club who have taken on this challenge.

'I myself, along with several other crew at Portaferry station, have taken up the challenge to walk 31 miles during May and it's really great to see the members of this club taking on the challenge to paddle the same distance.

'The RNLI is a charity, and we rely on people raising money to allows us to continue to save lives at sea. This support is invaluable.

'This club have already raised an incredible amount of money and on behalf of everyone at our station we thank them, and their friends and families who have already donated.

'We have no doubt they will complete their paddle and we will be following their progress throughout the month.'

Groomsport based club members will meet Donaghadee RNLI all weather lifeboat crew members next week.

It's not too late, if anyone would like to take up the RNLI Mayday Mile challenge, you can get all the details on the RNLI website: rnli.org.

If you would like to sponsor Belfast Kayak Club you can do so at: fundraise.rnli.org/fundraisers/BelfastKayakClub/mayday-mile

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For further information, please contact:

Lissa McCully, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, [email protected]

Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]

Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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