This year the RNLI is marking 200 years of saving lives at sea. At the Cranleigh and Godalming branch we are holding a charity abseil from the top of Guildford Cathedral on 15 June to mark the event and, of course, to raise funds to keep the RNLI going for another 200 years. And I will be one of those descending 160 feet from the top of cathedral attached only by a rope or two!

I’m grateful to say that I have never needed to be rescued at sea but if I ever did, I know that complete strangers would not hesitate to risk their own lives in all weathers to rescue me if they could.

The RNLI’s fleet is based at 238 stations around the UK and Ireland and its lifeguards watch over 242 UK beaches. A D class inshore lifeboat costs £100,000, a B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat costs £304,000 and a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat is £2.45m. It costs £1,527 a year to train one lifeboat crew member but the RNLI receives less than 1% of its funding from the government. The rest is donated by people like you.

I’m not looking forward to the abseil - I absolutely hate heights! So it would mean a great deal to me if you were able to support my challenge if you can and help the RNLI to save even more lives at sea.

Thank you!