Give it welly for mayday

The RNLI is calling on the public to join them in celebrating the lifesaving work of their volunteer crew on Lough Ree by giving it some welly and supporting Mayday, the charity’s national fundraising campaign.

From Friday, May 1 until Monday 4, collections and fundraising events will be taking place. The events will have a welly theme, in a nod to the yellow wellies worn by the RNLI’s volunteer crew members. The charity is encouraging people to show their support by donating, buying and wearing a yellow welly pin badge or by using the hashtag #YellowWelly on social media. You can also text RNLIMAYDAY to 50300 to donate €4*

The yellow welly is an essential piece of RNLI crew kit and has become an iconic symbol for the lifesaving charity.  Waterproof with steel-capped toes, the specially designed boots keep the volunteer crew’s feet warm and dry while also protecting them in dangerous conditions on deck.

Brave lifeboat volunteers have responded to the Mayday calls of those in distress around Ireland’s 2,500km of coastline for over 190 years. Lifeboat crew members are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Many have full-time jobs, but each carries a pager and, when it goes off, they rush to the lifeboat station and launch the lifeboat to rescue those in danger.

Last year Lough Ree RNLI was the busiest lifeboat station in Ireland launching 69 times and bringing 142 people to safety.

Supporting Mayday, Sarah Groarke, Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: “We are delighted to be involved with the RNLI’s Mayday campaign. We in Lough Ree are among 1,500 volunteers in Ireland who rely on the generosity of the public to help our lifeboat station to save lives on the water. From crew kit to training and fuel for our lifeboats, every cent raised this Mayday will help us to continue to rescue people every day.”

Volunteers will be bag packing in Dunnes Stores Athlone all day on Saturday 25 April in support of the RNLI’s Mayday campaign.

Anthony Hiney, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager added: “Yellow wellies are an important piece of kit for our crew. They keep our lifesavers on sure footing during rescues and they are a symbol of the amazing work they do. So whether you donate, fundraise or volunteer, let’s give it some welly and do something extraordinary for the RNLI”.

Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews from Ireland’s 45 lifeboat stations launched 1,089 times, rescuing 1,414 people.
To donate and for ideas on how to get involved with Mayday visit www.rnli.org/MAYDAY.