Chiswick RNLI welcomes ‘Porsche–911 Challenge’
Sep 20, 2024
Retired Londoners, Belinda and James Richardson, will once again visit all UK and Ireland RNLI stations in their Porsche 911, to fund a new lifeboat.
The couple aim to complete their challenge of visiting all 238 stations, driving 8,500 miles, boarding 36 ferries and taking four flights to non-drivable stations. Their goal is to raise their target of £110,000 to buy a new D class lifeboat for the RNLI relief’s fleet.
The crew of the RNLI Chiswick Lifeboat Station were there to greet the couple this week, along with Christian Harper, MD at Harpers of Chiswick, a local estate agent sponsoring the Challenge. The Porsche 911 – nicknamed Splash – bears the names of all RNLI stations and sponsors.
Christian Harper: “It was good to meet Wayne and the crew. Just as we were anticipating the arrival of the Richardson's car, the siren went off. The on-duty crew in full yellow, life-saving kit, ran down to launch the active boat and sped off to rescue someone.”
Chiswick is one of four RNLI stations operating on the River Thames – the first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea. The River Thames, with its powerful tidal currents, submerged debris and heavy traffic, can be incredibly dangerous for those on and by the water.
The Chiswick Station operates 3 active E-class lifeboats which are designed to handle these river conditions.
RNLI director of fundraising, Jayne George: "We’re honoured Belinda and James have decided to raise even more money to fund a new D class inshore lifeboat. In 2023 alone, D class lifeboats saved 96 lives and helped 2,028 people in difficulty."
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