CHARITY
Mayday! The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s biggest annual fundraising event is back, and the charity is calling on the public for their support
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, relying on voluntary public donations to maintain its 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland.
With continuing high demand for its lifesaving services, the charity is putting out its own ‘Mayday’ call, urging the public to take part in its biggest national fundraising event, the Mayday Mile.
The Mayday Mile challenges supporters to cover a mile a day throughout May - whether it’s walking, jogging or any way they like - whilst raising vital funds for the charity so that it can continue its lifesaving work.
Summer is the busiest time of year for RNLI lifesavers. More people are drawn to the water – and more people get into danger.
Money raised through the Mayday Mile will help the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards keep people safe around the coast this summer, providing its lifesavers with the world class training and equipment they need to fulfil the RNLI’s lifesaving mission to save every one.
Volunteers are the heart of the charity and make up 95 per cent of RNLI people. When the call to rescue comes in, they will drop everything to help somebody in need. Will you answer the RNLI’s Mayday call?
Sign up now and find out more at RNLI. org/CoastMayday.
LEAH LENDS A HAND
RNLI volunteers, like Leah Hunter, hope that this year’s Mayday Mile will bring to life the importance of the charity’s lifesaving work.
At 18 years old, Leah joined the crew at Whitby Lifeboat Station after witnessing its lifeboat crew rescuing a capsized rowing boat. Since then, Leah has qualified as Whitby’s first female helm for the inshore lifeboat. Aspiring to be an offshore paramedic, Leah’s first-aid skills have been tested during her nine years as a volunteer, having rescued casualties with broken bones and families swept out to sea.
