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[RyanB]

Evening all, the company I work for, Yorkshire Building Society raise money for a charity each year, last year was Alzheimer’s and we raised over £100,000! This year is the RNLI and as it is close to my heart I will be heavily involved within my department.

The launch of the beginning of our fundraising was today to coincide with the RNLI SOS Day and so far I have raised £430 from our department (120 people out 1500). Me and my team have many things planned throughout the year, however, I want to do something big and raise as much as I can in one go and Neil (nhp651) gave me a great but crazy idea which I appear to be following through.

The challenge is to visit every lifeboat station on mainland England, this is 100 stations consisting of 2564 miles in 5 to 6 days with an estimated cost of £500 in petrol (based on 30 mpg at £1.30 per litre). I will be starting in Berwick-upon-Tweed going down the East coast, along the South coast around the West Country and then up the M6 to West Kirby and finishing at Silloth.

The idea came about as Neil suggested the Ford real world challenge where a chap visited all the towns from the Da Vinci Code in only 2 tanks of fuel due to their super economic car.
The reason I am writing on here is because I want to appeal for help, if you own a company or know someone who does, or if you know anyone wishing to help raise funds for the RNLI I could use their support, I have written to countless company’s locally and nationally, specifically car manufactures to see if they would like to take up the challenge with their super economical cars or just willing to “lend” me a car or if they would like to help contribute towards fuel or anything else for that matter. I understand that to ask for everything from one company or person is a lot so a little from many is better. From other companies I have asked for donations of gifts that we can raffle or auction within work.
 
Any companies that do assist will benefit from large amounts of publicity, this and assisting the RNLI with fundraising is my complete driving force.

If anyone here has any connections or would like to help it would be greatly appreciated, I aim to raise at least £2500 but hopefully more with me efforts. I am in the early stages of planning and imagine so far the majority of the letters have not landed on the respective doormats or have been stored safely in the “crazy pigeon hole”, however, I am optimistic and will keep trying.

At present I have my plan and my time (my own time, not company time), I need a car, fuel and accommodation.
If you know anyone that can help or you can help please get in touch and I can give you my contact information.
Please feel free to pass this on to as many people as you want.

Best regards,
Ryan 
€

[ayrshire andy]

Hi Ryan!

First of all congratulations for coming to the fore with a splendid idea in aid of a venerable Institution and continuing in the fine tradition of Neil and the other chaps who did so well at Loch Ness last year, and of course the army of dedicated givers, volunteers and fundraisers everywhere.

You will probably have all sorts of offers of help soon, meanwhile I would like to pitch in with a few little offers to get the ball rolling.

Car I have a slightly elderly but reliable, roomy 4WD Subaru Outback estate with Satnav which I am happy to offer for the duration of the attempt, be it a few days or up to a week if need be, and will be your driver if necessary, and don't mind you sharing the driving if you fancy a shot as I should be able to put you on my insurance for a week or so. My work involves frequent long distance driving in the UK, which I do n't mind at all, when on a job I drive for 6 - 12 hrs a day on the commuting days ( my record was 908 miles in 17.5 hrs in snow-bound conditions from northern Scotland to a job in Wales!) so it would let you rest and coordinate fund raising efforts while I eat up the miles. You may of course have offers from generous companies out there, but consider the above a standing offer to keep up your sleeve.

Time/schedule My normal work involves short term contracts so I can be pretty flexible about taking say 3 - 5 days off for the attempt.

Petrol I can make a contribution towards the fuel cost but COME ON YOU CORPORATE SPONSORS, YOUR RNLI NEEDS YOU!

Accomodation I can cover my accom. costs for a few days perhaps our friends in the hotel/B&B industry could also help please?

As I say you will probably end up with bundles of more usable offers following your diligent spreading of the word, and whatever happens you are blessed indeed to have Neil on your side, but I am happy to offer the above meantime in case folks are a bit slow to respond, do let me know Ryan or Neil if there is anything at all which I can do, meanwhile Best of British!

Andy

[RyanB]

Andy, very very very much appreciated, I will let you know.

Looking around June/July time.

[RyanB]

Just to give you an idea and how I have worked this out:


        Bradford      BD12 9HD         
   175 miles   £34            
1   Berwick-upon-tweed      TD15 1QY      Mersey   
   22 miles   £4            
2   Seahouses      NE68 7SH      Mersey   D Class
   10 miles   £2            
3   Craster      NE66 3TS      D Class   
   14 miles   £3            
4   Amble      NE65 0BE      Mersey   D Class
   14 miles   £3            
5   Newbiggin      NE64 6DU      Atlantic 75/85   
   8 Miles   £2            
6   Blyth      NE24 3PA      ?   
   8 Miles   £2            
7   Cullercoats      NE30 3DS      Atlantic 75/85   
   2 miles   50p            
8   Tynemouth      NE30 1JA      Seven   
   14 miles   £3            
9   Sunderland      SR6 0PW      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   24 miles   £5            
10   Hartlepool      TS24 0RY      Trent   Atlantic 75/85
   24 miles   £5            
11   Redcar      TS10 3AG      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   14 miles   £3            
12   Staithes & Runswick      TS13 5BY      Atlantic 75/85   
   16 miles   £3            
13   Whitby      YO22 4AE      Trent   
   20 miles   £4            
14   Scarborough      YO11 1PB      Mersey   D Class
   8 miles   £2            
15   Filey      YO14 9LF      Mersey   D Class
   15 miles   £3            
16   Flamborough      YO15 1AE      Atlantic 75/85   
   5 miles   £1            
17   Bridlington      YO15 3JJ      Mersey   D Class
   38 miles   £7.50            
18   Withernsea      HU19 2HU      D Class   
   14 miles   £3            
19   Humber      HU12 0UG      Seven   
   62 miles   £12            
20   Cleethorpes      DN35 8SE      D Class   
   30 miles   £6            
21   Mablethorpe      LN12 2AT      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   18 miles   £3.50            
22   Skegness      PE25 3HH      Mersey   D Class
   71 miles   £14            
23   Hunstanton      PE36 6JN      Atlantic 75/85   
   16 miles   £3            
24   Wells      NR23 1DR      Mersey   D Class
   19 miles   £3.50            
25   Sheringham      NR26 8ZZ      Atlantic 75/85   
   5 miles   £1            
26   Cromer      NR27 9HE      Tamar   D Class
   15 miles   £3            
27   Happisburgh      NR12 0PP      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
                             26 miles   £5            
28   Great Yarmouth & Gorleston      NR31 6PU      Trent   Atlantic 75/85
   9 miles   £2            
29   Southboards      NR32 3PH      D Class   
   3 miles   £1            
30   Lowestoft      NR33 0AE      Tyne   
   13 miles   £2.50            
31   Southwold      IP18 6NB      Atlantic 75/85   
   21 miles   £4            
32   Aldeburgh      IP15 5BP      Mersy   
   60 miles   £12            
33   Harwich      CO12 3HH      Seven   Atlantic 75/85
   16 miles   £3            
34   Walton & Frinton      CO14 8EA      Tyne   
   9 miles   £2            
35   Clacton      CO15 1BW      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   25 miles   £5            
36   West Mersea      CO5 8PG      Atlantic 75/85   
   28 miles   £5.50            
37   Burnham on Crouch      CM0 8BL      Atlantic 75/785   D Class
   26 miles   £5            
38   Southend on Sea      SS1 1EE      Hovercraft   Atlantic 75/85
   40 miles   £8            
39   Gravesend      DA12 2BG      E Class   
   30 miles   £6            
40   Sheerness      ME12 1RS      Trent   D Class
   31 miles   £6            
41   Whitstable      CT5 1AB      Atlantic 75/85   
   20 miles   £4            
42   Margate      CT9 1HG      Mersey   D Class
   6 miles   £1            
43   Ramsgate      CT11 9RN      Trent   Atlantic 75/85
   14 miles   £3            
44   Walmer      CT14 7DY      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   8 miles   £1.50            
45   Dover      CT17 9BN      Seven   
   25 miles   £5            
46   Littlestone on Sea      TN28 8RY      Atlantic 75/85   
   3 miles   £1            
47   Dungness      TN29 9ND      Mersey   
   20 miles   £4            
48   Rye Harbour      TN31 7TN      Atlantic 75/85   
   12 miles   £3            
49   Hastings      TN34 3AR      Mersey   D Class
   15 miles   £3            
50   Eastbourne      BN23 6JH      Mersy   D Class
   21 miles   £4            
51   Newhaven      BN9 9BX      Seven   
   8 miles   £1.50            
52   Brighton      BN2 5UF      Atlantic 75/85   
   7 miles   £1            
53   Shoreham Harbour      BN43 6RN      Tyne   D Class
   17 miles   £3            
54   Littlehamoton      BN17 5BL      Atlantic 75/85   
   22 miles   £4            
55   Selsey      PO20 0DL      Tyne   D Class
   24 miles   £5            
56   Hayling sland      PO11 9SJ      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   15 miles   £3            
57   Portsmouth      PO4 9LY      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   42 miles   £8            
58   Calshot      SO45 1BR      Tyne   D Class
   13.5 miles   £3            
59   Lymington      SO41 3SE      Atlantic 75/85   
   11 miles   £2            
60   Mudeford      BH23 4AB      Atlantic 75/85   
   13 miles   £3            
61   Poole      BH15 1HZ      Tyne   Atlantic 75/85
   20 miles   £4            
62   Swanage      BH19 2AY      Mersey   D Class
   39 miles   £8            
63   Weymouth      DT4 8TX      Seven   Atlantic 75/85
   33 miles   £6.50            
64   Lyme Regis      DT7 3JJ      Atlantic 75/85   
   38 miles   £7.50            
65   Exmouth      EX8 2AY      Trent   D Class
   23 miles   £5            
66   Teignmouth      TQ14 8EW      Atlantic 75/85   
   19 miles   £4            
67   Torbay      TQ5 9AF      Seven   Dart
   6 miles   £1            
68   Dart      TQ6 9NL      Dart   
   17 miles   £3.50            
69   Salcombe      TQ8 8BZ      Tyne   
   27 miles   £5            
70   Plymouth      PL1 3EQ      Seven   
   24 miles   £5            
71   Looe      PL13 1AT      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   21 miles   £5            
72   Fowey      PL23 1DE      Trent   D Class
   34 miles   £6.50            
73   Fakmouth      TR11 3XZ      Seven   Atlantic 75/85
   25 miles   £5            
74   The Lizard      TR12 7PH      Tyne   
   26 miles   £5            
75   Penlee      TR18 5HW      Seven   Atlantic 75/85
   8 miles   £1            
76   Sennen Cove      TR19 7DF      Tyne   
   20 miles   £5            
77   St Ives      TR26 1LF      Mersey   D Class
   24 miles   £5            
78   St Agnes      TR5 0RY         
   12.5 miles   £2            
79   Newquay      TR7 1HR      Atlantic 75/85   
   13 miles   £2            
80   Padstow      PL28 8SL      Tamar   
   17 miles   £4            
81   Rock      PL27 6LD      D Class   
   8 miles   £1            
82   Port Isaac      PL29 3RL      D Class   
   26 miles   £5            
83   Bude      EX23 8HN      D Class   
   16.5 miles   £3            
84   Clovelly      EX39 5TA      Atlantic 75/85   
   14 miles   £2            
85   Appledore      EX39 1SA      Tyne   Atlantic 75/85
   23.5 miles   £5            
86   Ilfracombe      EX34 9EE      Mersey   D Class
   34 miles   £6.50            
87   Minehead      TA24 5UL      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   37 miles   £7            
88   Burnham on Sea      TA8 1BT      Atlantic 75/85   
   11 miles   £2            
89   Weston Super Mare      BS23 1AL      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   210 miles   £41            
90   West Kirby      CH48 3JU      D Class   
   3 miles   £1            
91   Hoylake      CH47 3AL      Mersey   
   8 miles   £1            
92   New Brighton      CH45 2ND      Hovercraft   
   61 miles   £12            
93   Lytham St Annes      FY8 1SJ      Mersey   
   5 miles   £1            
94   Blackpool      FY1 5JA      Atlantic 75/85   D Class
   9 miles   £1            
95   Fleetwood      FY7 6DN      Tyne   D Class
   45 miles   £9            
96   Morecambe      LA4 5BY      Hovercraft   D Class
   51 miles   £10            
97   Barrow      LA13 0QQ      Tamar   D Class
   52 miles   £10            
98   St Bees      CA27 0ES      Atlantic 75/85   
   14 miles   £2            
99   Workington      CA14 2JH      D Class   
   19 miles   £5            
100   Silloth      CA7 4AW      Atlantic 75/85   
   136 miles   £27            
   Bradford               
   2564 miles   £507            

[ayrshire andy]

You have done your homework big time!    and there is plenty of lovely scenery through some gorgeous parts of the land filled with good generous-hearted folks along the way...would there be time to enlist the local media to cover arrival at the various stations and encourage local giving? Perhaps we could fire people's imagination by incorporating both a deadline and a target sum which people could follow online via Forum and Facebook eg "the All England £100 000 in 100 Hours RNLI Challenge" or something like that? Counting the funds up while the time ticks away could make for some great telly which would get both immediate news coverage and could be made into a retrospective look at RNLI funding in action if the BBC could be brought on board...furthersuggestions and offers of help please folks!

[a3nige]

Hi,
Fantastic idea, good luck.
How about carrying something to be signed at every lifeboat station that can later be auctioned off?
Nige

[nhp651]

Hi,
Fantastic idea, good luck.
How about carrying something to be signed at every lifeboat station that can later be auctioned off?
Nige

Great idea, but sadly most of the stations are not manned all day, usually only mornings and as such this would either delay travelling or half the staions would not be covered to sign.
best bet would be to take a photograph of yourself standing outside the station doors, and post on here as you go via an Ipad so that it is up to date.

neil.

[RyanB]

I thought about that, but has Neil said I will miss some of the small stations as i will be there in the afternoon. i will have some kind of blog, maybe on here, twitter and Facebook.

[a3nige]

Ok, how about a model (lifeboat) that you photograph at every station, then auction it off?
Similar to Red Oktober world tour.
Nige

[nhp651]

If you log it in with your regional RNLI office Ryan, they will be very helpfull....they'll supply flags, banners, official sponsor forms, stickers and "flag" day stickers for those who want to put the dosh into a bucket that the regional office will also supply.

you can find their address on the RNLI website.....click on to my sinature at the bottom of my post for the info.

neil.

[RyanB]

Ok, how about a model (lifeboat) that you photograph at every station, then auction it off?
Similar to Red Oktober world tour.
Nige

Hi Nige,

Super idea but I do think I will struggle to get hold of a boat to do such a thing, I have a Trent, Tamar & a Seven, however, the Trent and Seven are still in the boxes and the Tamar is 1/4 built. I could never ask anyone to give/donate a model as I know the cost to the individual and also the hard work that goes into building one.

This is great, do keep the ideas coming.

Ryan

[RyanB]

If you log it in with your regional RNLI office Ryan, they will be very helpfull....they'll supply flags, banners, official sponsor forms, stickers and "flag" day stickers for those who want to put the dosh into a bucket that the regional office will also supply.

you can find their address on the RNLI website.....click on to my sinature at the bottom of my post for the info.

neil.

Hi Neil,

Already on with this. Work is already in touch with with Spurn point, our CEO was out there a few weeks ago having the tour and went out on the boat and HO are in touch with Poole.

I hope you dont mind Neil but I have 'borrowed' your RNLI signature for my email.

Thanks Ryan

[nhp651]

not at all Ryan.......good luck.
neil.

[dave301bounty]

 Good Luck to you Ryan ,all the very best  .dave .

[RyanB]

Evening all, great news is I now have a car, Andy, your fantastic offer was greatly appreciated but it would not have been fair to use your time and your personal car, but I thank you sincerley for your offer, you have no idea how much it means.

Since starting I have written to over 30 car company's local to me to ask for assistance, I am now in the process of writing to every business and company asking for support and help. I still need to raise the fuel money and find accommodation for 5 nights which again is no easy task but i will do it. I will be asking if they can help towards the cost of fuel of they can donate something we can raffle or auction at work. Was even thinking of asking marting if I could do some kind of silent auction on here if I were able to organise some donations from our trusted and loved model company's??   

I have attached a link below to my just giving site where people can sponsor me, please feel free to have a look at sponsor me, I would also be grateful if you could pass this along to as many people as you know and encourage the to do the same, after all I am raising money for a fantastic cause.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RyanBlessingtonRNLI2012.

I should be appearing in our local paper very soon, when I do I will post a link.

Many thanks for the kind words and offers for help, again they are greatly appreciated.

Ryan

[Norseman]

Hi Ryan

Re petrol costs -

Members could sponsor a section of your journeys petrol - and tell workmates
and then maybe they will pick up a bit extra too.

Your West Kirby to Fleetwood works out at £25 - I'm willing to sponsor fuel for that leg -
just on the basis of getting you in and out of the area  I'll see if workmates will
stump up anything on top of that.

Lifeboats and Mountain Rescue - top lads (oops and lasses)

Dave

[boyracer081119]

Evening all, the company I work for, Yorkshire Building Society raise money for a charity each year, last year was Alzheimer’s and we raised over £100,000! This year is the RNLI and as it is close to my heart I will be heavily involved within my department.

The launch of the beginning of our fundraising was today to coincide with the RNLI SOS Day and so far I have raised £430 from our department (120 people out 1500). Me and my team have many things planned throughout the year, however, I want to do something big and raise as much as I can in one go and Neil (nhp651) gave me a great but crazy idea which I appear to be following through.

The challenge is to visit every lifeboat station on mainland England, this is 100 stations consisting of 2564 miles in 5 to 6 days with an estimated cost of £500 in petrol (based on 30 mpg at £1.30 per litre). I will be starting in Berwick-upon-Tweed going down the East coast, along the South coast around the West Country and then up the M6 to West Kirby and finishing at Silloth.

The idea came about as Neil suggested the Ford real world challenge where a chap visited all the towns from the Da Vinci Code in only 2 tanks of fuel due to their super economic car.
The reason I am writing on here is because I want to appeal for help, if you own a company or know someone who does, or if you know anyone wishing to help raise funds for the RNLI I could use their support, I have written to countless company’s locally and nationally, specifically car manufactures to see if they would like to take up the challenge with their super economical cars or just willing to “lend” me a car or if they would like to help contribute towards fuel or anything else for that matter. I understand that to ask for everything from one company or person is a lot so a little from many is better. From other companies I have asked for donations of gifts that we can raffle or auction within work.
 
Any companies that do assist will benefit from large amounts of publicity, this and assisting the RNLI with fundraising is my complete driving force.

If anyone here has any connections or would like to help it would be greatly appreciated, I aim to raise at least £2500 but hopefully more with me efforts. I am in the early stages of planning and imagine so far the majority of the letters have not landed on the respective doormats or have been stored safely in the “crazy pigeon hole”, however, I am optimistic and will keep trying.

At present I have my plan and my time (my own time, not company time), I need a car, fuel and accommodation.
If you know anyone that can help or you can help please get in touch and I can give you my contact information.
Please feel free to pass this on to as many people as you want.

Best regards,
Ryan 
€

to make it a day to remember why dont you get hold of the guinnes world records and set the record for the amount of model lifeboats on the water in a pond all at the same time !!!!!! and at the same time charge a small fee to every one something like £3 to enter your lifeboat and also have ya name in the record book and maybe £5 for visitors ????.... its just a thought of making some cash thats all !!

[Norseman]

How about a new thread too

MY LIFEBOAT
with a link to the donate button in the first post

The idea being the members post a pic of their lifeboat
and make a donation for the priviledge of having a/several
lifeboats. A bit of fun really - any type of lifeboat you want.

I come across RNLI fund raising from time to time - as this is
here, but I never seem to see anything for the Mountain Rescue
teams who also save lives in awful weather conditions. If any
Mountain Rescuers look in -  THANKS FOR DOING IT 

Dave

[tigertiger]

Could the nearest Yorkshire Building Society branches have a collection box and then hand over a donation from each branch. Cheque could be handed over at the Lifeboat Station. This could be good PR for YBS who may add to the pot.

It was mentioned that most stations not manned all the time. However, as your visits will be pretty much scheduled, volunteers may turn out to meet you if they are contacted in advance. This could be done through contacting RNLI regional offices, perhaps. Then you can get photos for local press, who could then call for further donations to RNLI. Regional offices could also do press release and provide editorial on local rescues in the last year. Alternatively there is the opportunity for local papers to interview the local coxswain. This is something that you would not have to write, but would aid the cause.

[furball]

I notice that you've got Sheerness on your list - have you contacted them? Because I think if there's no one there for you to see, you might not be allowed into the commercial docks where the station is.

It might be the same for some other places....


Just a heads up.


Lance

[RyanB]

Great news........ I now have my accommodation covered thanks to the genorsity of my director at work!! Just the fuel money now..... so

Hi Ryan

Re petrol costs -

Members could sponsor a section of your journeys petrol - and tell workmates
and then maybe they will pick up a bit extra too.

Your West Kirby to Fleetwood works out at £25 - I'm willing to sponsor fuel for that leg -
just on the basis of getting you in and out of the area  I'll see if workmates will
stump up anything on top of that.

Lifeboats and Mountain Rescue - top lads (oops and lasses)

Dave

Dave, Fantastic idea, if any member would like to do this please contact me, send me a message and I will give you my direct number. Also thank you for the offer, very much appreciated, I will send you a message with my details so can contact me.
The issue with the fuel money is I cannot put it through the Virgin Money giving site as it is something I need to actually pay for the fuel along the way if this makes sense, what I am going to do is open an account for this reason and place all the donations in this account. I will willingly make the statements public for anyone to see so the can see this have been dealt with in the correct manner.

I also agree Mountain Rescue are a very worthy cause also and again the majority are on a voluntary basis, maybe this is something I can look into next year.

Many thanks for you help Dave, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Ryan

[RyanB]

to make it a day to remember why dont you get hold of the guinnes world records and set the record for the amount of model lifeboats on the water in a pond all at the same time !!!!!! and at the same time charge a small fee to every one something like £3 to enter your lifeboat and also have ya name in the record book and maybe £5 for visitors ????.... its just a thought of making some cash thats all !!

I am about to put a call into our club PR person tonight to see how they can help, he is good at his job so I am sure he will be able to help, I will suggest a lifeboat day to him, this can at least raise sponsorship and help me achieve £2500 initially set but hopefully move it up to £5000.

I have thought about contacting Guinness anyway regarding the trip so I will put a call in to see what they say.

Incidentally if anyone would like to sponsor me please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/RyanRNLI2012, any amount will be greatly received.

Thanks Ryan

[RyanB]

Could the nearest Yorkshire Building Society branches have a collection box and then hand over a donation from each branch. Cheque could be handed over at the Lifeboat Station. This could be good PR for YBS who may add to the pot.

It was mentioned that most stations not manned all the time. However, as your visits will be pretty much scheduled, volunteers may turn out to meet you if they are contacted in advance. This could be done through contacting RNLI regional offices, perhaps. Then you can get photos for local press, who could then call for further donations to RNLI. Regional offices could also do press release and provide editorial on local rescues in the last year. Alternatively there is the opportunity for local papers to interview the local coxswain. This is something that you would not have to write, but would aid the cause.

Great idea, but each branch will be doing their own fundraising, it is the whole company doing fundraising all year, this is just my contribution but I want it to be a big contribution.

Once a date has been set all of this will be discussed with each station and publicity organised where possible. You are correct in saying this will be great for the RNLI and YBS, I have a great PR team and they are already at work in raising the profile for my initial needs such as the fuel, once done they will continue to get as much coverage as possible.

Thank Ryan

[RyanB]

I notice that you've got Sheerness on your list - have you contacted them? Because I think if there's no one there for you to see, you might not be allowed into the commercial docks where the station is.

It might be the same for some other places....


Just a heads up.


Lance

Hi Lance, great point. Again this is something that will be sorted out prior to departure, we have some great contacts and lots of support from the RNLI. I have every intention on getting to each station and will do all I can to get there.

Thanks Ryan

[RyanB]

There is now a event on Facebook with over 400 people invited to take a look. The link is below if anyone would like to take a look.

http://www.facebook.com/events/321306191237813/