100km fundraising run for the RNLI
RNLI Tighnabruaich station will be the start and finish line as avid distance-runner Joe Dolden undertakes an ultra-marathon to raise funds for the charity. On 13 June, Joe will set out on a 60 mile loop around the Cowal Peninsula, his longest distance yet.
Inspired from a young age by his Dad’s love of distance running, Joe followed his lead. He enjoyed covering longer and longer distances and exploring nature on foot. Joe ran the Edinburgh Marathon in 2024 in support of a charity supporting communities in Bangladesh.
Joe explains “I have learnt about the challenges that the RNLI faces everyday, day and night, especially in the complex waterways of the West Coast” as a friend of his is a RNLI Tighnabruaich boat crew volunteer. “This inspired me to support their work through challenging myself to tackle a distance I have never done before, what better way to push myself to new limits than in support of a charity whose volunteers do this every day on their life-saving missions”.
RNLI data shows the high demand on lifeboat crews across the charity’s 238 lifeboat stations. The charity’s lifeboats launched more than 9,000 times in 2025, making it the sixth-busiest year in the charity’s history. RNLI lifeboat crews helped 8,290 people and saved 272 lives last year.
Access JustGiving to support Joe’s efforts here Joseph Dolden is fundraising for RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution and support the charity that saves lives at sea.
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Jane Boyd, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [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.