Fordingbridge & Ringwood RNLI 2½ mile skydive

Skydive completed! 

On a glorious sunny day on 18th April we completed our skydive with all participants getting back to earth safely. Our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us so generously and contributed to the fantastic amount raised so far. To see our Chairman, Bridget Glasgow doing her skydive, click this link:

https://youtu.be/xZ9eNi3FDZc

Thank you for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

The Fordingbridge & Ringwood branch are doing their bit to support the RNLI volunteer crews of the Solent Lifeboat Stations by doing a 2½ mile tandem skydive. This fund raising is vital for helping the RNLI save lives at sea and is specifically focussed on funding crew kit to ensure they have the right personal equipment to keep them safe when doing so. Our 2½ mile skydive is raising funds specially for our volunteer crews at the seven lifeboat stations in the Solent area - Lymington, Yarmouth, Cowes, Calshot, Bembridge, Portsmouth and Hayling Island.

The Solent is one of the busiest stretches of water in the UK with a vast array of activity from passenger ferries to the Isle of Wight, naval ships, international freight liners and some of the largest cruise liners in the world. As well as this, the Solent is known as a recreational playground with thousands of people yachting, sailing, kayaking and enjoying water sports of all type. The vast array of activity and large number of people means that our RNLI Solent Lifeboat Stations are some of the busiest in the UK.

Running a lifeboat station requires a substantial investment. Without the best crew training and kit crews would be unable to respond to calls for help without putting their own lives at risk. They face gale force winds, driving rain, rough seas, even snow and ice and find themselves dealing with a wide range of emergency incidents so they deserve to have the best training and protective kit available. In 2016 the Calshot lifeboat spent 1627 hours at sea – an average of over 31 hours per week. The Portsmouth lifeboat was at sea even longer – 1807 hours, nearly 35 hours each week. It costs £1600 to train a crew member each year. Last year the fully trained crews of the RNLI Solent stations helped save 51 lives off the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Supporting the campaign by donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the RNLI. So it's the most efficient way to donate, saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

However, if you prefer to send a bank cheque or CAF cheque, please make it payable to "RNLI" and forward it to Jerry Pike, Branch Treasurer,  3 Highbank Gardens, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 1BF.

Thank you for your support.