Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My name is Michaela Smith ..and I live on the Isle of Lewis ...from my kitchen window I often see the Lifeboat setting off ..sometimes in the most awful conditions and it makes me think . The brave men and women who crew these boats are all volunteers ..they risk their necks to save strangers who are in trouble at sea. I read a while ago how the Lifeboats are finding it harder and harder to meet the costs involved in providing the fantastic service they do ...so I thought I'd try and help a bit.

I am overweight ..very overweight in fact ..my knees are shot and I need to lose a serious amount of weight ..fast. I am going to the the Cambridge diet ...which is a bit extreme ...NO FOOD AT ALL !!!  ...just three special soups/shakes per day . It is hard to stick to ...but it is balanced ..it is safe and it is effective ......knowing that by sticking to it I will be helping this great charity will steel my resolve .....so I am asking for your help please . I would like to lose 100lbs in weight which is just over 7 stone ..that's a lot ..it's like a whole small person !!

I think it would be fantastic if I could raise £10 for each and every pound I have to lose ..that would be £1000 for the Lifeboats ...which is a useful amount for them .

The Lifeboat volunteers come from all walks of life, doing this vital lifesaving work on top of their day jobs. With only 1 in 10 of  new crew members having a professional maritime occupation, it's essential to give them the finest training, the safest boats and the best lifesaving equipment.

Here are just some ways in which the money I  raise could help save lives at sea.

£15 could buy a set of red and yellow flags, the international symbols used to identify the safest swimming waters, and help RNLI lifeguards keep bathers safe on the beach.



£63 could provide a lifejacket check. Every year around 4,500 RNLI lifejackets are cleaned, inspected and repaired to make sure they're all 100% seaworthy, essential to keep a crew member afloat should he or she end up in the water.



£180 could buy an RNLI-designed safety helmet and protect a crew members’ head from the worst a cruel sea can throw at them.

 

£450 could equip an RNLI lifeguard for a year from their speedos to their first aid kit and rescue tube, ensuring they have everything they need to provide safety cover for beach users.



£1,214 could cover the annual training costs for one of our volunteer crew members, ensuring they are fully equipped with the knowledge to save lives at sea.

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.