Two young cousins who set their sights on completing a full mile along Exmouth seafront to raise funds for the the RNLI in the MayDay Mile challenge, proudly fulfilled their pledge this afternoon, Sunday 30 May.
The RNLI are expecting more families than ever to book holidays in the UK and Ireland this year. People are excited to get away – and that’s how it should be. But it’s so easy to get into trouble by the water. For walkers to get cut off by the tide. For a paddling child to be swept out to sea. A pet dog to tumble down a cliff.
The RNLI are raising funds to keep local lifesavers fully equipped to deal with these emergencies – and come home safe themselves. With a year of Coronavirus restrictions disabling fundraising events, it’s never been more important for the charity to continue its quest to save lives at sea.
That’s why two youngsters, Ivie Simkiss-Cowtan, aged 3 years, from Exeter and Isla Cowtan, 5 years old from Worcester, decided to take part and walk along Exmouth seafront as part of the annual RNLI Mayday challenge.
They set off at 2pm today, supported by their families and many Exmouth RNLI volunteers and members of the public who came along to cheer them on their way. They started from Exmouth Lifeboat Station and completed the distance amid much excitement and applause.
Des White, Chair of Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Team, who presented both girls with special RNLI Crew Teddy Bears, said, “I struggled to keep up with these two keen young athletes as they completed what for them was a very long way. They did so well and have raised an enormous sum for our lifesaving charity. Thank you Ivie and Isla and grateful thanks to everyone who has kindly donated to our MayDay Mile Fundraiser this year, the support has been amazing.”
The two girls have already raised over £874 for the lifesaving charity, but you can still help Ivie and Isla raise even more by sponsoring them. Simply complete an all important donation on their official RNLI fundraising page below, and if you are able to ‘Gift Aid’ your contribution, so much the better.
https://themaydaymile.rnli.org/fundraising/ivie-simkiss-cowtans-fundraising-page
The RNLI MayDay Mile fundraising initiative is an annual event and this year, Exmouth has done extremely well with several events staged in support of the charity.
The current figures raised overall in Exmouth are :
Exmouth RNLI Crew Dougie Wright & Geoff Mills ’72 for 72km’ relay : £4,000
Ivie & Elsa’s MayDay Mile : £874
Exmouth Tesco MayDay Fun Run : £380
Des White,Exmouth RNLI Fundraising Chair ‘at least a mile a day’ : £260
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