Local café owners were presented with a plaque on 7 March for their ongoing support for the charity that saves lives at sea. To date, Antonio’s in the Strand have raised £2,300 in three years and sponsored a community newsletter to raise awareness.
Owners, Tony and Caroline Badcott opened the business specialising in gelato (authentic Italian ice-cream) in October 2013. His parents were life-long supporters of the charity and supporting his local lifeboat station through promotions was a priority when opening in Exmouth.
Fundraising Chair, Don Hodgkinson thanked Tony: “We’re very grateful for Antonio’s for their continued support. Their regular cheque donations through promotions contributes to our vital Crew training and kit costs. As a charity, we depend on donations and legacies to fund our volunteers to save lives at sea – we couldn’t do it without help in our community. As Tony is always giving us something, we would like to give him something back – a wooden plaque with thanks from the Institution to display to his customers.”
Tony said: “On behalf of my wife, Caroline and myself, we’re both very honoured and delighted to receive this recognition for supporting Exmouth RNLI. We’re hoping this year’s promotion will be just as successful and raise even more money to help save lives.”
At the end of this month, Tony and Caroline will announce the winner of the fourth annual lifesaving ice cream competition. The winner of this year’s new ice cream flavour will be a pupil from Brixington Primary Academy and will be announced on the 31 March in front of the pupils and parents from the School. Every ice cream of the new winning flavour sold from 1 April until September will include a donation to Exmouth lifeboat station. The shortlisted designs are currently displayed in the Antonio’s window at 9 The Strand in Exmouth.
