Plymouth Half Marathon and the RNLI

Time is running out to take part in the fantastic Plymouth Half Marathon on the 29 May, and the RNLI are looking for runners to raise vital sponsorship money for the Lifeguard service; here is one reason why fundraising for the RNLI is so important.

A teaching assistant from Dartmouth is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for the RNLI to thank the lifeboat crew who tried to save her father’s life more than 20 years ago. Rachel Thorpe, who grew up in Newquay, plans to complete the Plymouth Half Marathon on May 29 along with thousands of other runners in order to raise funds for the charity, despite never having taken part a distance event before.

She explains; ‘I lost my dad at sea when I was 17. He died in a fishing accident off the coast of Newquay. Two RNLI lifeboat crews, Newquay and Padstow, spent the whole of the cold January night and most of the following day searching for him and his crewmate. They worked so hard and risked their own lives but unfortunately on this occasion they weren’t successful.'

If you would like one of RNLI entries into the Plymouth Half Marathon, or if you have already secured your own entry and now would like to fundraise for the RNLI whilst taking part in the event, please contact Sarah Cheers on 01752 854482 or visit www.rnli.org.uk/plymouthhalf for more information.

More info on the Plymouth Half Marathon can be found here.