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Hunstanton terrier sheds the pounds - by raising them for the RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A portly Patterdale completed his Mayday Mile challenge for the charity that saves lives at sea in style.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Team Pip get under starter's orders for the final stage of the five-year-old terrier's Mayday Mile challenge for the RNLI
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Pip, aged five, walked from the Waterski Café in Hunstanton to the town's lifeboat station on Saturday, 31 May.

After a send-off from Stormy Stan just after 11am, he set off along the Prom with RNLI volunteer crew member Lou Kyle, accompanied by Jeff Wooldridge and Jackie Merrals from the fund raising team at Hunstanton RNLI, along with supporter Kay Childs-Scott, who was also on the closing stages of her own Mayday Mile challenge.

Pip was out of the traps like a greyhound, pulling crew member Lou along from the off.

Team Pip were armed with collecting buckets and flags as they made their way to the station along the busy Prom and cliff tops, with their furry friend taking the distance in his stride.

'I usually do the same walk with him, so for the Mayday Mile I thought we'd do a different walk every day,' said Lou. who crews on both the lifeboat and hovercraft at Hunstanton. 'As long as he's walking somewhere, he doesn't mind.

'He's going to have a snooze when we get home, then he's got chicken for dinner - that's his favourite.'

Pip arrived at the lifeboat station just after 1pm, where a special treat was waiting in the hovercraft hangar.

He cooled down with one of the special doggy ice creams served up by the dog-friendly Old Town Beach Café next door to the station.

As well as raising pounds to help the RNLI save lives at sea, Pip's adventures were also intended to help him shed a few along the way.

Pip tipped the scales to 14kg before he took to his toes for the Mayday Mile.

Patterdales are supposed to weigh a maximum of 9kg. And Lou said Pip had slimmed down to 12kg whilst the challenge was under way and looked on target to slim down to 10kg the next time he gets weighed.

Pip pipped his £125 target by raising just over £150, while a bucket collection along the walk brought in almost £120.

Kay Childs-Scott, who joined Team Pip in the sunshine raised almost £400 by running a mile a day throughout May for the RNLI.

'I don't normally run,' she said. 'I hate running, which is why I made myself do it.

'I'm local, I go paddle boarding and I think it's so important to support the RNLI.'

Editor's notes

Hunstanton RNLI operates both the inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and search and rescue hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer.

Like those at more than 200 RNLI stations around the coast of the UK and Ireland, their work would not be possible without the kindness of those who donate to the charity that saves lives at sea.

This year's Mayday Mile has so far raised more than £287,000 for RNLI, with 3.489 entrants clocking up 71,117 miles.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219, or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.



RNLI/Chris Bishop

Go boy... Pip leads the way along the Prom
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RNLI/Chris Bishop

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RNLI/Chris Bishop

From left, Jackie, Lou and Kay with Pip
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RNLI/Chris Bishop

Almost there - Pip leads Lou, Jackie and Kay down the lane to the lifeboat station
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RNLI/Chris Bishop

Pip tucks into an ice cream to celebrate completing his Mayday Mile challenge for the RNLI
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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.

About the author

Chris Bishop
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, Hunstanton

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