Major fundraising drive at this Sunday's University Boat Race

Since 2002, Chiswick lifeboat crew have been casting a watchful eye on Boat Race day, helping spectators to stay safe as they cheer on the men and women in different shades of blue. You might not have noticed the orange lifeboats among the race flotilla before. You might not even know that there are lifeboats on the Thames at all. Until you need them.

Every year, up to 400,000 people gather along the Thames to watch one of the most iconic events in the sporting calendar. Teams from Oxford and Cambridge Universities putting months of training and preparation into action, as they race for victory on the Thames.

This year’s race which takes place this Sunday (7 April) will be a special one for the local lifeboat crew because, for the first time, they are the official charity partner of the University Boat Race. The races start at 2.15pm and The RNLI will
have information and fundraising alongside the race at Putney, Bishop’s Park, Furnival Gardens, Chiswick Pier and Mortlake.

Their spokesperson said, “Every day, our lifeboat crews take part in a different kind of race. A race against time. Not for personal pride or victory. But to save lives. And it’s the training and preparation that the crew of Chiswick Lifeboat Station put in that means they are ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“This doesn’t come without a cost. Training exercises and courses need to be funded, as does the equipment the crew use in life-and-death scenarios. And because we are a charity, we rely on donations to make sure crews have everything they need to save lives.”

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the crew at Chiswick are ready to launch. When the call to rescue comes in, Chiswick lifeboat can deploy within 90 seconds. But they couldn’t do it without donations from people like you. Every pound you donate will go towards providing the lifesavers at Chiswick with the training and kit they need so that when they are needed, they are ready.

Chiswick Lifeboat Station is one of the busiest in the country. In 2018 alone, they launched 217 times. Thanks to their intensive training and state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment, they can launch within 90 seconds of the shout coming in. But they can’t do it without your support.

They’re raising £20,000 to support the lifesavers at Chiswick. Donate to Chiswick Lifeboat Station today and help save lives on the Thames. Every pound you donate will go towards providing the lifesavers at Chiswick with the training and kit they need so that when they are needed, they are ready.

April 2, 2019