Mayday Mile champion visits Cromer RNLI
eight-year-old Johnathon walked 57 miles and raised more than £4,000
Cromer RNLI had a very special visitor on Friday 30 May - Johnathon Jarvis. Jonathan is a massive RNLI supporter and, as he neared completion of his Mayday Mile challenge this year in support of the charity, he visited Cromer RNLI lifeboat station with mum Kayleigh and dad Lee
Johnathon started his fundraising at the age of five, taking on the mayday mile where he walked one mile in May. Then, when he was six, he walked a mile every day in May.
When he was seven, he asked his parents if he could walk to their local station in Hunstanton which was 42 miles.
Mum Kayleigh said: "After initially being completely shocked and saying 'no way Johnathon', we sat down looked into route and thought right we can do this. So, in 2024, we set off and he raised £3,150."
Earlier this year, Johnathon met Mark Jarvis (volunteer launch authority at Happisburgh RNLI) who is also a family relative and Johnathon asked if he could walk from Happisburgh to Hunstanton.
Kayleigh and Lee once gain were fully supportive and part of the journey saw them meet some of the volunteers at Cromer RNLI.
Kayleigh said: "Johnathon has always loved the RNLI from being a toddler as yellow was his favourite colour and he got his first pair of RNLI welly boots as soon as he could!
"He is fascinated by all the vehicles the RNLI use - from the tractors pulling the boats, the all-weather boats and his absolute favourite, the hovercraft.
"As he gets older he is learning more about his favourite charity and appreciates that they are saving lives and that they do this through volunteering. He aspires to become a hovercraft pilot.
"We are the proudest parents for his determination to do more and watching him thrive through his interaction with different RNLI volunteer crews is a pleasure.
"He is just such a sweet boy with a big heart and a brain far beyond his eight years. We admire the way he inspires others to do something they wouldn’t normally do like joining him for a walk. We never tire of watching him personality grow."
Paul Watling, Cromer RNLI Coxswain/Mechanic, said: "We all really enjoyed meeting Johnathon and his parents. He was so enthusiastic about everything we do and his efforts are humbling for all of us at Cromer RNLI.
"We save lives at sea because of incredible people like Johnathon and we all are so grateful for his impressive fundraising and we have no doubt he will achieve his dream of joining the volunteer crew in the future."
RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Clare Stagg, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected]
Key facts about Cromer RNLI
The Cromer Lifeboat Station was established in 1804 and was not taken over by the Institution from the Norfolk Shipwreck Association until 1857. Since 1923 there have been two lifeboats at Cromer, and currently there is a D Class inshore boat and Tamar all-weather lifeboat. The outstanding figure in the history of Cromer is Henry George Blogg who became a member of the Cromer crew in 1894 at the age of 18. He was coxswain from 1909-1947. During his 53 years as a lifeboat crew member, the Cromer lifeboats had been on service 387 times and rescued 873 lives. His record is without equal in the history of the Institution. No lifeboat crew member has received so many decorations for gallantry.
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.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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