Rustman is the brainchild of Chris Shaw and Richard Webster, who  share a lifetime love of outdoors endurance sport - yet it was only when doing some volunteer RNLI and Mental Health community work together that they got talking and appreciated a mutual love of coastal endurance events. There were other coincidences too - both in their mid 50’s, both born on 12 July, both selected Merseyside Olympic torch bearers for our promotion of exercise in improving the mental health of our communities.They  were both ultra marathon runners and swimmers - and both harboured an ambition to plan an endurance event where friends with a similar love of the local outdoors, would choose to accept the significant risks and choose to support each other to cross the Dee estuary and then carry on deep into North Wales in a run, swim, cycle that would roughly be similar to an Ironman event, but where we would be free to be non-corporate, non profit and solely under our own steam as mates! Because we were mostly folks of a certain age with creaky knees and aching limbs we’d call it RUSTMAN rather than Ironman and attempt to raise some funds for local charities in the process.

After last years Pandemic affected local abbreviation the Rustmen are back, maybe not fitter, but certainly older, wiser, mostly vaccinated and raring to go on another adventure that will test our collective endurance and team spirit over some of the most testing natural obstacles our local environment can throw at us! We have returned to the original epic route with the added bonus of a climactic run over Holyhead mountain to finish off what reserves we may have at the end of a long day. This year, due to the events growth in popularity we have had to limit participants due to tidal and logistical safety concerns, We have twenty individuals and ten teams of three relaying from Birkenhead to Holyhead in a bike, swim, bike, swim, bike run format, ably supported by a regular crew of drivers without which none of this would ever have been possible.

We all know how traumatic the last year has been. As we slowly return to normality and the realisation of how important genuine human contact is we hope that your generosity amazes us once more given the dire straits that so many charities presently find themselves in. many thanks for taking the time to read this far, we really do appreciate your support X

Too many people are still drowning. More than ever we need the RNLI’s help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe. RNLI lifesavers are our lifeline. They’re the lifeboat crews who provide 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland. The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands. And the RNLI safety teams and educators working tirelessly to stop people getting into trouble in the first place.Thank you.