Hello and welcome to my JustGiving page

This time I am fundraising for Barry Dock RNLI, a cause that has become very close to my heart,

Many of you will know that I volunteer in the RNLI shop and visitor centre in Barry Island where I've had the opportunity to meet so many of the amazing volunteers who make up our OneCrew family. From lifeboat crew and shore crew to fundraisers, shop volunteers, water safety teams and visitor experience volunteers, everyone plays their part in helping to save lives at sea.

Many of you also know how much I love cycling and how I’m always looking for the next challenge.

This time I'm taking on France’s Coast to Coast challenge, cycling from the English Channel to the Mediterranean Sea.

I will be setting off from Ouistreham on the northern French coast and finishing in Nice on the Mediterranean coast, covering 870 miles (1400km) over two weeks.

Why am I doing this? Because I wanted to take on something that would really test me, while raising funds for a charity that means so much to me.

This is going to be a real challenge and I’m going to have to dig deep, especially on the hills and if the temperatures soar. To prepare, I have been training religiously since the beginning of January, cycling 150 miles a week and spending time in the gym to strengthen my legs and core. Knowing that I am doing this to support Barry Dock RNLI will help to keep me motivated when the going gets tough!

The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea. Every rescue, every launch and every life saved is only possible because of the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of supporters.

At Barry Dock RNLI, volunteers are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to respond when the pager sounds. Whether its rescuing people cut off by the tide, helping those in difficulty in the Bristol Channel, or supporting multi-agency incidents along our coastline, they are always ready to answer the call.

The RNLI relies entirely on voluntary donations to maintain its lifeboats, equipment, training and stations. Saving lives at sea requires lifeboats that can battle the elements, lifeboat stations from which to launch from, and more importantly, your support.

Every lifeboat launched and every life saved is only possible thanks to the generosity of people like you.

In 2024:

- RNLI lifeboat crews aided 8,259 people

- RNLI lifeguards helped 17,068 people

- 97% of the RNLI frontline savers were volunteers

- More than 7,900 volunteer lifeboat crew and shore crew stood ready to respond around the UK and Ireland.

So please do follow my journey as I cycle through France, and if you are able to make a donation, however small, every penny will help support the RNLI's lifesaving work and give me an extra push when the road starts heading uphill!

Thank you

Jackie x