Scarborough RNLI Volunteers Tackle Gruelling Cleveland Way for Vital Funds

Volunteers from Scarborough Lifeboat Station are set to undertake what has been described as their "toughest challenge" yet this weekend, a non-stop relay run and walk along the 110-mile Cleveland Way to raise vital funds for the charity.

The team, composed of volunteer crew members and station personnel, will depart from Filey Brigg at approximately 8:00am this Friday and aim to reach Helmsley within 30 hours, finishing on Sunday morning.

The route will take them along the North Yorkshire coastline, including a section from Scarborough up to Ravenscar, before heading across the North York Moors National Park.

John Senior, President of Scarborough Lifeboat Station, described the undertaking as a "mad challenge". He explained that the team will face approximately 5,000 metres (15,000 feet) of elevation

"Every year the crew take on a huge challenge. We've done running across the United Kingdom from Scarborough over to  Blackpool, we've done the three peaks and this year they've come up with this mad challenge to do 177 kilometers in 30 hours.

We're running and walking from Filey to Helmsley. It'll be done as relays, there's 15,000 feet of climb, which is halfway up Everest. And the age groups between 19 and 83.

So they're all either crew members or part of the team at Scarborough Lifeboat Station.

We've actually got an 83-year-old who'll be running about two sets of five or six miles each. So it's a huge challenge for them and it's gotta be done in 30 hours.

So we are really hoping to raise some really important funds for Scarborough lifeboat station. "

The challenge follows previous annual fundraising efforts, which have included running across the UK from Scarborough to Blackpool and completing the three peaks. However, John Senior believes this year's event is particularly demanding.

"I think we've decided it's probably the toughest challenge we've done to press because obviously we can't pick people up.  They're gonna have to just struggle through because there are quite large sections, that are inaccessible.

So once they commit to a leg, they're gonna have to complete it. So yeah, we've got our fingers crossed that we'll all get them round, which I'm sure they will because they are tenacious and brave people and nothing beats 'em. These guys and women are the bravest of the brave.

We're really looking forward to it and if people would like to donate or help there is a a Facebook page donation page there. If you go to Scarborough Lifeboat Station look up the Cleveland Way Challenge.

We'd really love your support if that's possible"

The fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rnliscarboroughclevelandway

John says the route is both spectacular and challenging featuring some steep inclines

"The views are spectacular, you've gotta dig in short strides, get your nose down, because some of those steep pulls are huge, particularly from Scarborough up to Ravenscar there, it's all uphill all the way.  I think they're almost the highest cliffs in the United Kingdom up there. Yeah it's a fair old pull.

A lot of 'em are gonna be running through the night, we're sending off a round about eight o'clock from the Filey Brigg and they're gonna be running round and, up to Scarborough and then cutting across on the Cleveland Way and they're hoping to finish a roundabout Sunday morning.

So they're hoping for about a 30 hour trip. That's what it's, it should take"

Despite the arduous nature of the challenge, the team must ensure that the lifeboat station remains operational throughout the weekend. According to Mr Senior, enough crew will remain at the base to launch the lifeboat in an emergency.

"We are an operational lifeboat crew, so we have to leave enough crew back at base to be able to actually operate the lifeboat. Should there be an emergency? Let's hope there isn't.

But the weekends have been quite busy at the moment, we are probably expected to have a launch over the period that the crews will be out doing this challenge.

So we do have to leave, crew members ready to do their actual job, which is to launch lifeboats and save lives at sea. "

The fundraising is essential for the RNLI, which is a charity. Funds raised will go directly towards training and equipping volunteers. Mr Senior emphasised the volunteer nature of the crews, 

"Our crews cannot do their jobs without the fundraising support,  they're all volunteers except for the professional Cox on station, nobody else gets paid for the jobs they do.

So they really do rely on your generosity and they do a fantastic and fabulous job right around the coast.

And, many hundreds of lives are saved every year. People that would not be sitting there at the breakfast table the next morning had it not been for an RNLI crew. "

Roger Buxton, Scarborough's volunteer lifeboat operations manager, added:

"As a charity we rely on the generosity of the public to take part in events like this crew challenge and raise the funds that allow us to be there when we’re needed most".

Public support has already been strong, with the team having raised 65% of its target before the event has even begun. "We are absolutely blown away by your generosity," said Mr Buxton, thanking the "incredible supporters so far".

For those wishing to support the challenge, a donation page has been set up on the Scarborough Lifeboat Station's Facebook page, under the "Cleveland away challenge". The public can follow the team's progress on the Scarborough RNLI social media pages.

The fundraising page can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/page/rnliscarboroughclevelandway