Davi Birks

Running A Marathon For The RNLI

Fundraising for RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution
£3,715
raised of £3,000 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Event: Baxters Loch Ness Marathon & Festival of Running 2019, on 6 October 2019
Participants: James Swinden, Alex Owen
RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Verified by JustGiving

RCN Eng/Wal 209603,SC037736,ROI20003326,IOM1308,Jer14
We are a 24 hour search & rescue service to save lives at sea

Story

Thanks for stopping by and checking out our JustGiving page.

On the 21st of April 2019 my friends James, Alex and I were on a four day canoe trip along the Caledonian Canal, Scotland. The trip was part of a long list of challenges we conjured up to celebrate the three of us turning 30 a couple of years ago. 

On the third day of the trip we were to travel from our campsite at Fort Augustus to Dores, canoeing the entirety of Loch Ness. After a brief coffee stop at Urquhart Castle, almost exactly in the middle of Loch Ness we ran into some trouble when the winds picked up, the waves got bigger than we had ever anticipated and our canoe began to take on water. One wave hit the front of the boat at a strange angle which, coupled with carrying an extra 10-15 litres of water meant we capsized rapidly and we were all instantly immersed in the water, in shock and in disbelief at the situation we had found ourselves approximately 1km from the shore. 

Luckily, a near by family in a camper van noticed us and raised the alarm with the RNLI coast guard. 

We were in the water for approximately 45mins. James and Alex were rushed to hospital in separate police cars whilst I was air lifted from the water and taken directly to hospital with hypothermia and in severe shock. If it wasn't for the RNLI and such services we would not be here today, they acted perfectly and efficiently to save our lives. 

Remember at the start of this page I mentioned that we had put together a list of challenges to celebrate turning 30? Well, one of our aims was to run a marathon. It only seems fitting that we enter the Loch Ness marathon on the 6th of October this year to raise money for the RNLI. The twist, we aren't runners. At all! But we are going to work our asses off to get marathon ready and to complete this challenge. 

We ask that you consider that one day you might need the RNLI and other such services. Please give generously to support our cause and these amazing people, charities and to help them in the hard work they do each and every day. 

You can listen to our full story here:-https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/075-always-prepare-for-the-worst/id1097966651?i=1000437110625

Thanks for reading and for all your incredible support! 

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About the charity

RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Verified by JustGiving

RCN Eng/Wal 209603,SC037736,ROI20003326,IOM1308,Jer14
RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews provide a 24-hour search and rescue service all around the UK and Ireland, while lifeguards keep a careful watch on the UK’s busiest beaches. RNLI lifesaving and drowning prevention depend on supporter fundraising and the generous donations that you and others give.

Donation summary

Total raised
£3,715.00
+ £592.50 Gift Aid
Online donations
£3,715.00
Offline donations
£0.00

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.