On a mission: 911 hours to visit all 238 RNLI stations and raise money for new lifeboat
Belinda and James Richardson (both in yellow tops) stopping off at the Kinsale RNLI station during their 2024 RNLI-911 Challenge in aid of the Lifeboats. Included are Pat Cunningham, Hetty Walsh, Darragh Keating, Gerard Quinn, Maeve Hackett, Susan Draper and Kevin Gould. Picture: Dan Linehan
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the RNLI, and long may it continue,” said Kinsale lifeboat station manager Kevin Gould as unique fundraising effort made a quick pitstop in the seaside town.
English couple James and Belinda Richardson were in Kinsale as part of their RNLI-911 Challenge, which will see them drive clockwise across Britain and Ireland to all 238 RNLI lifeboat stations in just 911 hours.
The challenge will see the pair drive 8,500 miles in their car which has aptly been named 'splash', boarding 36 ferries and taking four flights to non-drivable stations.
The retired couple from London hope to raise enough money to fund a D-class inshore lifeboat — the workhorse of the RNLI — which costs in the region of €129,000.
They began the challenge at 9.11am on Friday, August 23, and aim to finish by 9.11am on September 30. The couple began at RNLI Morecambe Lifeboat Station, and hope to finish at RNLI Peel (Isle of Man), and to date have raised thousands of euro.
Mr Gould has been the Lifeboat Operations Manager at the Kinsale station since 2017, but the retired carpenter has been a volunteer since the station opened in 2003.
“95% of the members of the RNLI are volunteers, and it has been like that for 200 years,” Mr Gould said.
He added:
The RNLI has more than 5,700 volunteer lifeboat crew members across Ireland and Britain, and is mostly funded via donations.
“It is unconditional generosity. They might get their name on the side of the boat but that would be the most of it.
“All of the money that is donated and raised is muchly appreciated and goes a long way,” he added.
Darragh Keating has been the Kinsale station mechanic for 11 years. “It’s all volunteer based, and you wouldn’t have anything without the volunteer crew,” Mr Keating said.
“It shows you what people can do when they get together. You don’t need big money to get people together for the right cause to get the job done,” he added.
Mr Gould says you must be a "special kind of person" to volunteer for a charity like the RNLI.
“During my time here, I’ve noticed the RNLI attracts selfless people who rather not be seen or heard.
“It’s not for everybody to get up in the middle of the night, get in a lifeboat in the dark to save someone they don’t know, and probably won’t meet again.
“It takes a special kind of person to do that, and they should be admired,” he added.
Individuals and companies had the chance to sponsor a drive to one of the 238 RNLI stations for a donation of £238 (€281) towards the RNLI-911 Challenge, and West Cork Distillers in Skibbereen sponsored the Union Hall station.
Co-founder of West Cork Distillers Ger McCarthy said the RNLI is "very close" to his heart and the company are proud to sponsor the station.
The former trawlerman said his dad used to fundraise for the lifeboat throughout his life.
“My dad was a fisherman for 50 years. Everyone in Union Hall is very sensitive towards the lifeboat,” he added.
Donations to the D-class lifeboat appeal can be made at rnli-911challenge.co.uk.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
