Join Wells RNLI and Norfolk Fire Service for the Mayday Mile
Wells RNLI is calling on the local communities to walk alongside real-life lifesavers in a special Mayday Mile family event. Teaming up with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, this scenic walk along the Beach Bank at Wells will raise vital funds to support lifesaving work.
Funds raised will help the RNLI provide essential training and kit for its volunteer lifeboat crews, who are always ready to respond when the call for help comes. The event will also support Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service as they complete the final leg of their Hydrant Hike, a challenge that has seen firefighter's walk from Diss to Wells-next-the-Sea.
The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire Hydrant Team will be taking on a 60-mile hike from Diss to Wells-next-the-Sea in just 24 hours, all to raise over £4,000 for The Fire Fighters Charity.
The charity has been supporting the fire service community since WWII, now offering vital mental, physical, and emotional support to serving and retired fire personnel and their families.
The walk will begin at Wells Quay, near the Harbour Office, at 11:00am, following a picturesque route along the Beach Bank before finishing at Wells RNLI Lifeboat Station.
Participants will be welcomed at the finish line with refreshments and the chance to meet local lifeboat and fire crews. Wells RNLI’s Shannon-class lifeboat Duke of Edinburgh and the Wells Fire Engine will be on display, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the work of these emergency services.
Adding to the excitement, RNLI mascot Stormy Stan will be making a special appearance to join in the Mayday celebrations. There will also be stalls, water safety talks, and face painting to keep everyone entertained. The RNLI shop will be open for those wishing to purchase souvenirs in support of the charity’s lifesaving mission.
Everyone who completes the walk will receive a special certificate at the finish line. This is a fantastic community event for all ages, offering a chance to show support for the lifesaving work of both the RNLI and Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.
Chris Hardy, Wells RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Usually, it’s our crew responding to Mayday calls, but now we’re the ones asking for help. It’s our chance to make waves of yellow! This is our time to raise awareness and funds to ensure our incredible lifeboat crews have the training and kit they need to save lives.
‘We’re heading towards our busiest time of year, so we’re putting out our call for help to raise the funds that will keep our lifesaving service going today and allow us to be there when we’re needed most.’
For those unable to join the event on 18 May, there is still an opportunity to take part in the Mayday Mile Challenge, which encourages participants to complete one mile a day throughout the month of May, however they choose. Every penny raised will help RNLI volunteer crews and lifeguards keep people safe this summer and beyond.
Running a 24/7 lifesaving service is costly, and in 2023, it cost over £190 million to run the RNLI. The Mayday fundraiser begins on 1 May and will run throughout the month across the UK and Ireland.
To sign up for the Mayday Mile or learn more, visit rnli.org/SupportMayday.
Notes to editors
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has released its rescue figures for 2024, revealing its lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year – more than one life saved for every day of the year.
RNLI lifeboats launched 9,141 times in 2024, and helped 17,068 people
The charity’s lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards saved a total of 437 lives last year*
RNLI data – captured between January and December 2024 – highlights the continuing high demand for the services of volunteer lifeboat crews, with 9,141 lifeboat launches over the course of the year, and 17,068 people helped out of dangerous situations at the coast. RNLI lifeboat crews saved the lives of 352 people over the course of 2024, whilst the charity’s lifeguards saved 85 lives on beaches around the UK, assisting over 17,000 more.
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
RNLI Media contacts For more information please telephone Jess Curtis, RNLI Media Engagement placement North and East. Volunteer Press Officer Wells RNLI on 07483488243 or [email protected] contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.