A group of brave volunteers from Maersk Training in Newcastle took part in a gruellingly physical and mental challenge by spending 24 hours at sea in a survival life raft.
The 12 participants raised a combined total of £2,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which will go towards vital crew training and equipment for the lifeboat volunteers. The team, including Managing Director Stuart Cameron, entered the raft at 8.00am on Saturday 22nd of August and remained inside until 8.00am on the 23rd of August.
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The life raft was anchored just off Tynemouth, Longsands, next to the Lifeguard Station. Equipped with only the standard provisions that would be found aboard, they stayed within the raft for the full 24 hours. A short video clip, taken from the challenge, shows exactly what happened to the team after spending such a long time at sea.
Tony Greener, Maritime Business Development Manager at Maersk Training who took part in the Life Raft Challenge, said: “The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, providing an on call a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland, and a seasonal lifeguard service. Taking part in fundraising, such as the Life Raft Challenge, means that the lifeboat crews can continue to reunite the 22 people they rescue each day with their families”.
Stuart Cameron, Managing Director of Maersk Training said: “The RNLI is a charity that is very close to the heart for many people at Maersk Training. With 92 per cent of the total income for the charity coming from donations and legacies, we are thrilled to have done our bit to raise money and awareness for the amazing work the RNLI volunteers do”.
David Stenhouse, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Tynemouth RNLI, added: “Support from maritime companies like Maersk Training is very much appreciated. Two of the volunteers who took part in the challenge are actually serving lifeboat crew members here, so they will see, first hand, the benefit of all funds raised.”
Even though the challenge has now passed, you can still donate by visiting the Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/24HourLiferaftChallenge
