RNLI lifeguards in Newquay are gearing up for a swimming challenge on Friday (August 2) to celebrate 200 years of the RNLI and raise vital funds to continue the charity’s lifesaving work.
They aim to complete 200 25m swimming pool length underwater, they then do an immediate return length doing the freestyle swimming stroke in under an hour at Newquay Leisure World from 7pm and 8pm.
Four lifeguards will go off every minute in order to complete the challenge, and a total of up to 40 lifeguards will take part.
The challenge will be replicating one of the fitness tests people have to undertake to qualify to become a RNLI lifeguard, which involves swimming 25 metres underwater, followed by an immediate return length freestyle stroke, all of which must be completed in under 50 seconds.
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Lewis Timson, the lead lifeguard supervisor for Newquay, said: “I’m delighted that as a lifeguard team we have decided to take on this challenge to mark 200 years of the RNLI. The challenge incorporates some of the skills needed to be a RNLI lifeguard and I’m really looking forward to seeing how our lifeguards get on.
“We hope this challenge can raise money to support our goal of saving everyone and also provide essential funds for us to continue the lifesaving service we provide.”
Founded in a London tavern on March, 4 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.
Since the charity was founded in 1824, its volunteer crews in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset West Dorset and the Channel Islands have launched the lifeboats 55,912 times, saving 14,967 lives. RNLI lifeguards across the region – who became part of the charity’s lifesaving service in 2001 – have responded to 176,585 incidents, saving 1,061 lives.
In Cornwall alone, RNLI lifeguards have responded to 128,344 incidents, aided 150,672 people and saved 793 lives.
In total, across the UK and Ireland, 146,452 lives have been saved by the RNLI – this equates to an average of two lives saved every day for 200 years.
Anyone who would like to support the fundraiser can donate at www.justgiving.com/page/rnli-onecrew-200-swim-challenge?newPage=true