Join the fun, fund the lifesavers at Cowes RNLI 999 Day this Saturday
Usually, the lifesavers of Cowes RNLI Station answer mayday calls – it’s the most serious call for help. But this May, it’s they who need YOUR help. The station is now putting on a Mayday fundraiser and 999 day to raise vital funds.
The event and fundraiser will take place on the Parade in Cowes on Saturday 3rd May. Families, children and people of all ages can come down and learn about the work of some of the island's emergency services.
Cowes RNLI station will be open to visitors, and, subject to operational requirements, voluntary services will be displaying vehicles and equipment. Crew and lifeboats from Cowes’ flanking stations, Yarmouth RNLI and Calshot RNLI will be in attendance, along with other local independent inshore lifeboats. RNLI mascot, Stormy Stan, will be on hand for pictures, hugs and high-fives.
The Isle of Wight’s three coastguard teams will attend: Needles, Ventnor and Bembridge CRT. Cowes Fire Station will attend with their pump, alongside St Johns Ambulance Service and Wight Dolphins Diving group.
As is tradition, Cowes RNLI volunteer boat crew will run their own Mayday Mile at midday. The crew will start outside the lifeboat station and run a relay across the Parade, donning pieces of their kit along the way, including dry-suits, life jackets and helmets, and carrying the RNLI’s ‘Dead Fred’ training dummy on a stretcher. The relay will end at the lifeboat station, where crew members will have a chance to catch their breath before demonstrating some lifeboat skills with a rescue demonstration off the parade.
Supporters will be on hand along the route with collection buckets. Money raised through Mayday fundraising events like this one will make sure that RNLI lifesavers have everything they need to keep families safe this summer. Every second counts when the water turns against you, and RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews will drop whatever they’re doing when a call for help comes in.
Timeline:
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10:30am Coast Guard demonstration: throwing lines and water rescue kit on public slipway.
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11:00am arrival of Yarmouth and Calshot lifeboats.
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12:00 Midday May Day Mile relay race.
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1:00pm RNLI Diver recovery demonstration inside trinity.
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2:30pm Joint RNLI and Coastguard water rescue demonstration.
We look forward to seeing you on the Parade on Saturday 3rd of May.
– Ends –
RNLI media contacts
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Sofia Voudouroglou, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Deputy Press Officer 07594051372/ [email protected]
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George Chastney, Cowes RNLI Volunteer Press Officer 07530 254052/ [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789.
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 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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
About Cowes RNLI Station
Cowes Lifeboat Station is converted from a former HM Customs Watch House, the rear of which is 300 years old. It looks out onto one of the world’s busiest shipping waterways and carries out a range of interesting services every year. It is the only station to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
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 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 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, 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.