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Torbay RNLI seek help to complete 24 hour mission for SOS Day 2011
14
Jan
2011
Volunteers from Torbay�s RNLI lifeboat station in Devon are hastily putting together their plans for their Silly On Scilly challenge for the charity�s SOS Day on Friday 28 January*. Among other generous offers, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, who operate travel to and from the Islands, have given the six crewmembers free flights from St Mary�s to Newquay on board Skybus. Now the crew are desperately looking for help with travel around the mainland.
The six RNLI volunteers; Richard Burden, Kevin Ashworth, Richard Fowler, John Heale, Dr Alex Rowe and Angie Morris are making plans to travel to the Isle of Scilly and take part in six different SOS missions on the Islands before travelling back to the lifeboat station in Brixham. However, not content with this, they intend to visit all 23 RNLI lifeboat stations in Devon and Cornwall in a 492 round trip, and all within a 24 hour time limit.
Richard Burden, RNLI volunteer crewmember at Torbay says;
Time is quickly running out. We�ve received lots of offers for help from both individuals and businesses, all of which go someway to helping us complete the mission. However we�re now really looking for help with the transport on the mainland.
SOS Day is huge for the charity and a real opportunity for the lifeboat crew to get involved with the fundraising that we rely upon so much to ensure we get the most up to date equipment and the training to be able to do our job properly. We�re really excited about our SOS challenge, and visiting our colleagues across Devon and Cornwall, many of who are hosting their own SOS events, so it�s essential that we can get it organised in time. Any help would be really appreciated.
Once on the Scilly�s, the crew from Torbay will join the St Mary�s volunteer lifeboat crew to embark on six SOS mini challenges, including; a Snorkel On St Mary�s, run the length of St Agnes to eat Scones On St Agnes at Troytown farm, place a flag on the Summit Of Sampson, create a Sculpture On Sand on Tresco and have a Swim On St Martin�s, all whilst Spotting Our Seals as they travel between the Islands.
Jackie Hayman from the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company adds:
We�re absolutely delighted to be able to help the volunteer RNLI crew from Torbay. We are very supportive of the fantastic work carried out by the RNLI. We�re more than happy to assist with free flights on board Skybus from St Mary�s to Newquay and we would encourage others to get involved in the challenge and help wherever you can. We�d like to wish the team every success in completing their challenge.�
Skybus has been serving the Isles of Scilly for over 25 years, and operates daily flights between St Mary�s and Newquay, as well services to Land�s End, Bristol, Exeter and Southampton.
For more information on how to get involved with the RNLI�s biggest fundraising event, SOS Day 2011 log onto www.rnli.org.uk/sos
To offer your support to the volunteer crew at Torbay you can either sponsor their efforts at www.virginmoneygiving.com/SupportOurStations or offer assistance to help them complete their SOS challenge by contacting the station on 01803 853 136.
Notes to editors
� If you�d like to arrange an interview with any of the Torbay crew taking part in this mission, please contact Amy Caldwell on the number below. The crew will also be available to give updates on route.
� Please find attached two pictures of five of the six volunteer RNLI lifeboat crewmembers from Torbay who are taking part in the Support Our Stations SOS challenge for SOS Day 2011 on Friday 28 January 2011, credit RNLI/Nigel Millard for both.
- 1. From left to right; Richard Burden, Angie Morris, Richard Fowler, Dr Alex Rowe & Kevin Ashworth
- 2. From left to right; Kevin Ashworth, Richard Burden, Dr Alex Rowe Angie Morris, Richard Fowler
� *SOS Day is the RNLI�s biggest fundraising event, last year, RNLI fundraisers and supporters around the south west raised nearly �66,000, by holding a variety of events across the region based on the SOS acronym. For example, Soap Our Saloons, Surf Off Scotland, Ski Our Slope or Share Our Soup. For more information log onto www.rnli.org.uk/sos
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Lifeguard Press Officer on 07920 818 807 email [email protected]
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 150 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 139,000 lives.
Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland and registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736)
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