Locals are being urged to ‘Go Orange’ for the Island’s independent lifeboats over the next 2 days, by either participating in a themed fundraising event or by simply donating any spare change to the crews out and about across the Island.
Ryde Inshore Rescue have been at Hovertravel and Wightlink this morning (Friday) and are now making their way to Dover Park Primary School to meet the children and staff and give then a chance to see the boat up close. Later on today Ryde’s volunteers will be taking their RR2 lifeboat into the town and from 11:00 will be situated at Minghella Square until late afternoon, when they will then head back to Hovertravel and Ryde Pier.
Tomorrow the team will once again be with RR2 at Minghella Square, whilst the larger Ryde Rescue 1 lifeboat will be situated at Tesco all day from 09:00.
Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat are basing themselves in Regent Street, Shanklin and Morrisons supermarket in Lake over the next 2 days.
On Sunday, Ryde Inshore Rescue will be opening their ‘Orange Café’ at the lifeboat station in Appley with the usual tea, coffee and homemade cakes available for a donation.
Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, Ryde Rescue and Freshwater Independent Lifeboat are all independent stations, relying on donations and charity to continue the valuable work they carry out in waters around the Island.
Often the independent lifeboats, both on the Island and on the mainland, are confused with the work carried out by the RNLI so each year a ‘Go Orange Day’ (or weekend) is held to raise awareness of the independents.
