Leigh and Harriet are getting ready to run the 2026 London Marathon for the RNLI

Throughout their journey with the RNLI they have been involved in countless rescues, but one incident stands out vividly for volunteer Helm Leigh.

In May 2021, during treacherous conditions including force-10 wind and massive breaking waves, a surfer was in serious difficulty close to rocks.

Leigh and the volunteer Trearddur Bay Lifeboat crew sprung into action, and it was a moment that tested their commitment to saving lives. Leigh said at the time: ‘We spotted the surfer, a young female, as she was drifting quickly towards the rocks and getting hit by steep breaking waves, there was very little room for manoeuvre.'

Realising that they had only one chance to get to her before she was too close to the headland, the helm on the shout turned the lifeboat into the breaking waves and heading through the breaking swell, bore down on the casualty as two of the crew (one of them Leigh) reached overboard and pulled her into the boat.

This rescue not only highlighted the incredible training and equipment provided by the RNLI, but also instilled a profound appreciation for life itself in the volunteers. These are the exact reasons that both Leigh and Harriet are choosing the RNLI as their charity of choice.

Leigh says:

'For over 23 years we have dedicated ourselves to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a charity that stands as a beacon of hope for those in peril at sea.

'My entire adult life I have been volunteering at Trearddur Bay, whilst Harriet served at Holyhead RNLI for six years and now coordinates rescues across the UK as a Team Leader within HM Coastguard.

'We want to raise money for the RNLI as we know first-hand that every penny and pound we get will go towards saving lives at sea.

'We wanted to challenge ourselves and inspire others to donate to this worthy cause very close to our hearts.

'We want to thank anyone who wishes to donate to our fundraiser - let's raise as much money as we can so the lifeboat crews can continue saving lives!'

You can follow their journey and support their cause here:

We are Running the TCS London Marathon for the RNLI.

RNLI media contacts 

For further information, please contact Megan Dixon, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07922 303963 or email [email protected].

Alternatively you can contact Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on 07977 728315 or email [email protected], or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or [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, 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.