Byline: With the start of the season fast approaching, the RNLI has worked together with other members of the British Diving Safety Group (BDSG), to produce seven top tips for divers to follow before they embark on their first dives of the season.

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Nick Fecher, Coastal Safety Product Manager, said: ‘With Easter traditionally heralding the start of the diving season, the British Diving Safety Group has come together to produce and promote a set of consistent safety tips for divers.

‘We are encouraging divers to follow our seven top tips to ensure they enjoy the start of the diving season safely.

‘Simple steps like checking your kit is in working order after a winter in the garage and practicing in a pool or in shallow water before the first dive of the season can help ensure your safety.’

The seven top tips are:

• Have your kit serviced in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Check all your kit is in working order, such as suit seals and rubber straps for perishing, zips and SMB reels.
• Practice your skills in a pool/shallow site before the first dive of the season.
• Plan some work up dives to ease yourself back into the water if you have not dived since last year.
• Be realistic about your fitness levels before commencing the season.
• Don’t let complacency creep in. Inform the Coastguard of your plan and undertake a thorough buddy check before each dive.
• Do not underestimate the risks; accidents do happen to people like you.

Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Luke Blissett, Public Relations Officer, on 01202 663184 or email luke_blissett@rnli.org.uk. Alternatively, contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email pressoffice@rnli.org.uk. 

Byline: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is expressing its thanks and pride to a host of dedicated runners who completed the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday to raise vital funds for the charity.

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For some it was the chance to beat that elusive personal best while for others it was the opportunity to do something monumental in memory of a heroic rescue or a loved one lost at sea.

Lee Popplewell, who survived a heart attack only 18 months ago says: ‘I’m so happy to have completed the London Marathon in a time of 04:16:52, I’ve succeeded in a great personal challenge while raising much needed funds for this lifesaving charity.
 
‘I’m already thinking about signing up for next year, though for now I might enjoy a couple of days rest.’

John Figiel, who, along with friends Paul and Lee, will be running over 400 miles for the RNLI in 2015 said: ‘What a great day, perfect weather and a brilliant run. Looking forward to next year!’

Notes to editors
For more information or images contact Joanna Dey, PR Officer (Campaigns) on joanna_dey@rnli.org.uk, 01202 336064. Or contact pressoffice@rnli.org.uk, 01202 336789.
 

Byline: The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) today launches a new campaign ‘H2Only’ that challenges the public to master the art of self-control by substituting all drinks for water for two weeks.

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The challenge will run between Tuesday 27 May and Tuesday 10 June 2014 and aims to raise awareness and funds to support the charity’s lifesaving work.

By giving up all drinks except water for two weeks, and asking family, friends and colleagues for sponsorship and donating the money saved through only drinking water, participants can raise money for the charity whose volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards rescued 9,951 people last year alone.

All those brave enough to take on the challenge can sign up now online at www.H2Only.org.uk and download the free app from Google Play or the Apple App Store which will provide them with information about the money saved through giving up all drinks but water – and the calories they’ve ditched too. Through the app, people will also be able to unlock rewards like adding a slice of lemon to their water if they can manage to raise £5 in five minutes. Participants can also take on the H2Only challenge as a team through the app and can share encouragement when will-power hits choppy water.

The H2Only challenge is a simple exercise in self-control, but the RNLI does not underestimate how hard it will be for people to succeed. Just as dedicated RNLI lifeboat volunteers and lifeguards need to be selfless and committed, participants will need to commit to self-control to succeed in this challenge. It’s not just alcohol that participants will have to give up for two weeks, they’ll also need to say goodbye to fizzy drinks, tea, coffee, juice and squash.

Paul Boissier, RNLI Chief Executive, is taking on the challenge. He said: ‘We hope the H2Only challenge will help raise awareness of the important work the RNLI does. It reflects what the charity does and the commitment that all RNLI lifesavers display day-in, day-out. In 2013, during the same two week period which the H2Only campaign covers, RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards rescued 787 people, saving 18 lives across the UK and Ireland.’

Chris Speers, volunteer crew member at the RNLI’s Poole lifeboat station, is also taking on the challenge. He said: ‘Through taking part or sponsoring participants in this challenge, the public will help raise vital funds to support RNLI lifesavers across the UK and Ireland. As a crew member, I know just how important every pound raised is. It pays for the lifeboats we use, our kit and our training – all of which keeps us safe when we’re out on a shout.’

As a charity, the RNLI relies on the generous support of the public, with 92% of its total income coming from donations. The RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers drop everything 24/7 to save lives on the water. The H2Only challenge is the public’s chance to do something heroic for them.

For more information, to join the campaign and to download the app visit: www.H2Only.org.uk.

Media contacts
For more information please contact:

James Hardy
Ketchum for the RNLI
james.hardy@ketchum.com
020 7611 3672

Pippa Maloney
Ketchum for the RNLI
pippa.maloney@ketchum.com
020 7611 3642

Byline: The RNLI is today (Tuesday 15 April) revealing the ten stunning short-listed images from its My Coast photography exhibition. The short-list will now be narrowed down to one winner by a public vote on the charity’s Facebook page.

Page Content: The My Coast photography competition was launched in September last year, coinciding with the launch of the Courage on our Coasts photography book and exhibition, which showcased the photography of volunteer lifeboat crew member and professional photographer Nigel Millard. The exhibition of Nigel’s photos, featuring over 50 images of the RNLI’s lifesaving work, has been touring major cities of the UK and Ireland for the past seven months.

During this time, the charity has been running the My Coast photography competition, in partnership with Epson. Budding photographers were challenged to capture what the coasts of the UK and Ireland mean to them.

A panel of judges at the RNLI reviewed all 107 entries, supervised by an independent representative from sponsors Epson, to create a long-list. Nigel Millard then short-listed the top ten entries, which are today being uploaded to the charity’s Facebook page for the winner to be decided by a public vote.

Voting will be open for one week, so those wishing to vote should visit www.facebook.com/rnli before Tuesday 22 April. If they are not already fans of the charity on Facebook, they will need to ‘like’ the page before they can vote.

The winner will receive an image of their choice from the Courage on our Coasts exhibition, signed by Nigel Millard, an Epson R3000 Compact A3+ printer (donated by Epson), an Ewa Marine CAF100 Rain Cape and an iPhone waterproof housing (donated by Cameras Underwater).

Nigel Millard says:

‘The RNLI’s volunteer crews and lifeguards are at the heart of the coastal experience, taking care of sea farers and beach-goers around the UK and Ireland. This is what I have been capturing in my photographs over the past 10 years, and it’s what’s showcased in the charity’s Courage on our Coasts exhibition. So we thought it was apt for the My Coast competition to ask other photographers to capture what the varied and beautiful coasts of the UK and Ireland mean to them.

‘The short-listing process was difficult – there were some fantastic entries – but I really enjoyed seeing the range of approaches to coastal photography; the range of styles and subject matter was vast. I looked for striking images that really encapsulate the photographer’s experience of the coastline. Now it’s over to the public to crown the winner!’

The winner will be informed within two weeks of the end of the public vote and will be announced on Facebook. They will be invited to receive their award at the RNLI’s Annual Presentation of Awards at the Barbican in London on Thursday 22 May 2014.

Notes to Editors
• The attached image sheet shows the short-listed photos. All ten of the short-listed images can be seen at www.facebook.com/rnli and are available for media use. Contact RNLI Public Relations (details below) to request copies.
• Nigel Millard is an international photographer and a lifeboat crew member at Torbay in Devon. He is best known for his ongoing commissions for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, for his special issue Royal Mail stamps, and for commissions for companies including Mercedes, Land Rover and Lloyds Bank. He has been working with the RNLI now for almost a decade. In 2010 Nigel was awarded an RNLI Supporter Award for his continued support.

RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Laura Fennimore, RNLI Public Relations Officer, on 01202 663181 / Laura_Fennimore@rnli.org.uk or RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.