Filey RNLI virtual lifeboat weekend smashes target

Wednesday, August 19th, 2020

The organisers of Filey’s traditional fundraising lifeboat weekend decided earlier this year that, due to the current situation, it would be impossible to run the event as normal. It was agreed that a virtual format should be tried, and to great effect.

Filey RNLI virtual lifeboat weekend exceeded all expectations and raised an incredible £9,000 for the life saving charity, with contributions coming from a Just Giving page and through donations at the boathouse on Coble Landing, Filey.

The crew, the Ladies Guild and friends of the station who rallied behind the project produced a series of videos on both Facebook and Twitter with the slogan: ‘If you can’t come to our lifeboat weekend then we will bring it to you’.

Visitors were able to see activities that would have been impossible to see from the shore, with aerial footage donated by SkyShots and crew member Gary Wilson. In addition, there was an opportunity to meet the crew and the Ladies Guild, have a tour of the boats and boathouse, get on board each boat for a helicopter exercise, and be part of the all-weather lifeboat crew on a rescue.

There were also special shows from Magic Mike, Ali Bullivent, Dearne Big Band and Stubbsie Folk Singers, along with video support by Phil Bodmer from BBC Look North, Paddy on Yorkshire Coast Radio, The Filey Town Mayor, and the Filey Lifeboat Chaplain.

Facebook posts alone were viewed an amazing 158,000 times, and the whole virtual lifeboat weekend will be transferred to a new special Filey Lifeboat YouTube channel in the next few weeks.

Contributions came from all parts of the Filey Lifeboat family.

Neil Cammish, Filey Lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic, says: “We have raised a fantastic amount over the virtual lifeboat weekend. It certainly goes to show what can be done in these difficult times to pull together and raise funds for our volunteer crew. Very many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the virtual weekend and a massive thank you to anyone who has donated to Filey Lifeboat.”