THE RNLI in Fermanagh rescued 100 people from Lough Erne in 2021, and now, the charity is launching a May Day fundraiser to ensure its life-saving work can continue this year.
The RNLI charity’s rescue figures for 2020 show the lifesaving crew at Lough Erne launched lifeboats and rescue water craft (RWC) 54 times, bringing 100 people to safety, with 18 of those launches carried out in the hours of darkness.
Carrybridge RNLI on Upper Lough Erne launched 29 times last year, coming to the aid of 52 people, while Enniskillen RNLI on Lower Lough Erne launched 25 times, bringing 48 people to safety.
Both Carrybridge and Enniskillen RNLI have remained operational throughout the pandemic with volunteers working amid Covid-19 restrictions and with additional safety protocols in place.
Crews responded to a range of activities throughout the year, including helping people who had experienced navigation difficulties on the lake, attending to boats that had suffered mechanical failure, as well as providing casualty care.
Now, the charity is putting out its own ‘Mayday’ call for help as it prepares for a busy summer.
With high numbers of visitors expected as more people choose to holiday closer to home, more funds are needed to ensure the lifesaving service is able to keep everyone safe.
As such, the RNLI is asking people to take on their own ‘Mayday Mile’ fundraising venture to help raise funds.
Stephen Scott, Carrybridge RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: "Our lifeboat crews have remained operational throughout the pandemic and have had to operate in a different way while wearing additional PPE including surgical masks.
“They have done this while launching their lifeboats and RWC to help those in trouble on the lake.
"As another summer approaches, we know that our lifesavers face more challenges in keeping everyone safe, which is why we are now the ones sending out our own Mayday call and asking for help.
“Our Mayday Mile – our annual fundraising campaign – is our call for your support to help keep you and your family safe this summer."
Launching this Saturday, May 1, and running for the whole month, the Mayday Mile campaign asks people to sign up to support lifesavers around Ireland and the UK.
The charity is calling on supporters to join the Mayday Mile, covering at least one mile in any way they like in order to raise vital funds.
Gary Jones, Enniskillen RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, added: ‘Our lifesavers on Lough Erne will drop everything to run to the lifeboat station when the call comes, so we’re asking our supporters to put themselves in the crew’s boots and join the Mayday Mile.
“Every penny raised will go towards ensuring we are ready to save even more lives this year.”
To sign up for the Mayday Mile, or to make a donation to support the RNLI’s lifesavers, see RNLI.org/supportMayday.