Lyme Regis Boots to Boats walkers boost RNLI life-saving funds
A group of eight long distance walkers known as Boots to Boats strolled into Lyme Regis today (Sunday) and presented a donation of £1,300 to volunteers at the town’s RNLI lifeboat station.
The donation to the lifesaving charity was raised during a three day trek by the walkers along the historic Liberty Trail which stretches from Ham Hill near Yeovil in Somerset to the Cobb in Lyme Regis.
The route was first taken by people in 1685 who walked to join the protestant Monmouth rebellion in Lyme.
It was the sixth time the Boots to Boats group had made the annual journey and their generous donations now run into thousands of pounds.
Organiser Mark Farrell said: ‘I do have a boat in West Bay and so far I have not had to call the RNLI for help, but you never know which is why we support this life-saving charity.’
Mark was joined on the walk by Andy Lauchlan, Nick Perry, Jack Burrow, John Smilie, Ashley Clark, Jay Grama and Davey Thomas.
Two dogs, a mongrel called Ace and a collie-cross named Bear, also went for a longer than usual walkies with the Boots to Boats team.
All the walkers were met at the Lyme Regis lifeboat station by volunteer crew members Gareth Roscoe and Rob Emery.
ends
Notes to editors:
Photo caption: Boots to Boats walkers met by Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat crew on completion of their trek along the Liberty Trail. Photo credit: RNLI/Richard Horobin
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Nick Marks, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station on 07568 187582 or [email protected]. or Emma Haines, Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected], or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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.