DUN Laoghaire RNLI has called on people to support the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews last week as Mayday, the RNLI’s annual national fundraising campaign, was launched.
Volunteer crewmember and comedian PJ Gallagher joined members of Dun Laoghaire RNLI, where he volunteers, to help launch the campaign and encourage people to sign up and donate.
The volunteer lifeboat crew at Dun Laoghaire RNLI launched 43 times in 2018 bringing 54 people to safety. These rescues were only possible because of the donations made to the charity by supporters.
Veteran marathon runner Mary Nolan Hickey, who ran around the coastline of Ireland last year to raise funds for the RNLI at the age of 65, joined the gang for the launch.
She raised over €72,000 but felt that she had not yet completed her fundraising for the charity.
Mary is now cycling around Ireland counter clockwise on her bike to try and bring her funds raised for the charity to €100,000.
For the month of May, the RNLI’s Mayday campaign is asking people to ‘do their bit, to fund our kit’.
The lifesaving charity is hoping to raise €780,000 to fund the crucial kit volunteer crews rely on, which includes lifejackets, helmets and the RNLI’s yellow wellies.
There are over 1,500 volunteer lifeboat crew members in Ireland providing a 24-hour search and rescue service.
Speaking at the launch, PJ Gallagher said: “Being a volunteer lifeboat crewmember with the RNLI, I know first hand the commitment it takes.
“Our crews drop everything when their pagers go off to launch the lifeboat and head out to help those in trouble. Our lifeboat crew kit gives us the confidence to face all weathers and conditions, day or night.
“The right kit is vital in helping to make sure we do what we are trained to do and that we bring everyone home safely.
“I hope people will answer the RNLI’s Mayday appeal and do something to support the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew in Ireland,” PJ added.
“It doesn’t matter how big or small it is. Every piece of kit on a volunteer has been funded through the generosity of people who donated to the charity.”
People who want to get involved should visit RNLI.org/Mayday to register for a free Mayday pack.
The pack provides a host of fundraising ideas.
The charity is also encouraging people to show support on their social media, joining the conversation using the hashtag #MaydayEveryDay, or by donating online or buying a yellow welly pin badge.
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK.
The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland.
The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,200 lives at sea and on land.