Island residents, business and schools have been going orange today (Friday) in aid of the Island’s independent lifeboats.
Ryde Inshore Rescue, Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat (SSILB) and Freshwater Lifeboat were all out and about collecting money and spreading the Go Orange cheer.
It would have been hard to miss SSILB in Regent Street, Shanklin as they dressed up and put their lifeboat on display. They also paid a visit to Broadlea Primary School, where students were given the opportunity to pie their teachers – all in the name of charity of course. The school fundraisers accumulated a fantastic £445.
In Ryde, volunteers from the Appley-based lifeboat visited Hovertravel first thing this morning to meet with staff and customers. Oranges were offered to passengers thanks to Hunts of Rookley.
The crew and Ryde Rescue 2 lifeboat then made their way to the end of Ryde Pier, where Wightlink employee and lifeboatman John McBride raised more than £70 with the help of his fellow life-saving colleagues.
Ady Farrell from Ryde Inshore Rescue said:
“As Ryde Pier and Fishbourne port are both in our area, we have worked closely with Wightlink over the years and we are really grateful for their support.
“Not only does Wightlink allow us to collect on their property and ships but they provide us with travel when we have needed to get our boats to the mainland for essential maintenance.
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Ryde also based themselves at Anthony Minghella Square in Ryde Town for the duration of the day, where they were joined by the likes of the Town Crier.
Freshwater Lifeboat collected funds outside the Co-Operative on Afton Road.
A little further afield… Sandown crew member John Burns joined in with the #GoOrange activities by sending a photo from on board HMS Clyde. The naval vessel is currently on a South Georgia patrol.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Ryde Rescue will be at Busy Bee Garden Centre on Brading Road.
