RLNI: Amazing fundraising efforts for the Blyth Lifeboat!
Not only has Sing United surpassed all expectation musically, it also has a bigger heart than we could ever have imagined. This started as a modest attempt to give something back through Sing United Supports. The cause was chosen due to its strong connections to the theme of our very first show, River’s Pride. Blyth Lifeboat in particular being the closest to our HQ! It soon became the mission of our generous singing family to raise as much money for them as humanly possible! Throughout the term singers have been making and selling their wares like crazy! Every Thursday night someone had added something different to the fundraising machine that kept going and going and… going!
What do the RNLI do?
Simply put, they save lives. A 24-hour rescue service in the UK is provided by volunteer lifeboat crews. Not forgetting the lifeguards who look after people on our coastline. Since forming in 1824, more than 142,200 lives have been saved by RNLI lifeguards and crews. But they are proud to be much more than just a rescue service. They provide the community with a safety service to educate people on the risks and to give them knowledge about going out to sea and undertaking activities at the coast. International teams also work with other organisations around the world to help tackle drowning in the most vulnerable communities.
Meet the volunteers!
On our fundraising path we have met with several of those volunteers. Adam Dixon has been a volunteer crew member for the RNLI at Blyth for around 12 years. He started after returning home from university for a new interest and group of friends. The RNLI offered an interesting opportunity to add to his CV. After more than a decade of supporting the RNLI he’s still amazed by the realisation that you can be doing the mundane one moment, sitting at your desk doing paperwork. Then the next you are in the middle of the North Sea trying to save someone’s life. Why does he do it? Adam loves giving something back to his local community. Offering a service that allows people to be a little safer and enjoy our fabulous coastline.
Robin Palmer and his young son came to see our show wearing his full crew kit on a very hot summer’s night. This is the kit he needs to keep him alive and enable him to save others in treacherous waters. He spoke of how his volunteering impacts and is supported by his whole family. This includes his little boy being woken in the middle of the night when a call for help comes in. The suit for one volunteer crew member costs in excess of £1000 and is funded by the goodwill and charitable giving of others. A big spotlight on the need for continued support, donations and fundraising for this amazing service and its crew.
How much did we raise? Drum roll, please…
We combined the efforts of our fundraising and the wonderful volunteers who came to see our show (and of course their mascot, Stormy Stan). Raising a staggering total of £1339!!!
Thank you Sing United for a sterling effort. A million thank yous to the crews and lifeguards who put their lives on the line to keep us all safe.
We salute you!
