Half Marathon for RNLI

Hello.

My name is Gareth Bird and I will be running thirteen unforgiving miles to raise vital funds for Atlantic College RNLI Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) Station. Atlantic College is an international sixth form establishment boasting a largely student run RNLI station responsible for rescue operations along 20km of the Bristol Channel.

For a selection of my pictures, please scroll down to the Gallery at the foot of this page.

During my two years at Atlantic College I was heavily involved with the ILB Station. After morning lessons had finished, myself and other student volunteers walked to the station to see what work needed doing. Some afternoons training boats would launch allowing practicing of boat handling skills, other days were spent in the workshop changing wonky propellers or patching holes and when the sea was very rough we’d shelter in the station office and run through chart reading, navigation and radio communication skills.

Students wishing to join the college’s RNLI operations make a two year commitment to join the Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) Service. The first year is spent gaining basic skills needed for lifeboat crews. In the second year, students join the lifeboat crew or train as RYA Instructors. I was asked by the Station Head to train with the RYA as a Powerboat Instructor. I subsequently worked in a close knit teaching team ensuring new students had the skills and confidence needed for their second year.

The Bristol Channel is one of the busiest shipping waterways in the world and is often hit by storms and high seas. It is therefore essential the Atlantic College RNLI crew are trained to the highest possible standards. Almost every afternoon the RNLI crew launch the lifeboat to undergo training exercises.

This emphasis on training results in a lot of wear and tear on the crew’s equipment. Fortunately the college’s lifeboat is in good condition so I don’t need to raise the £160,000 to buy a new one, or the £48,000 needed to refit it! I am setting my sights on more moderately priced, but no less important, items. Below is a list of essential inshore crew kit.

• Gloves: £16
• Drysuit: £319
• Thermal Suit: £82
• Helmet: £166
• Lifejacket: £222

It would be wonderful to raise enough to cover the costs of some items; I’m sure a new drysuit with no leaks or a new pair of warm gloves would be very much appreciated by current and future crew members.

If you would like to donate to or find out more information about my fundraising effort you can do so through my fundraising website: www.justgiving.com/gareth-bird. (It is just like online shopping. You ‘pay’ by credit or debit card through a secure website, all funds are held by JustGiving until the Half Marathon is over and are then transferred securely to the RNLI.)

At www.justgiving.com/gareth-bird you also can view my fundraising and training progress, see more photographs and access my blog where I’m posting regular updates. Alternatively you can contact me by email and I will get back to you to discuss other methods.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and for any donations you would like to make. Every donation large or small is greatly appreciated. Please wish me luck for the big day!

RNLI Half Marathon

View this gallery on Flickr