Volunteer crew from Hamble Lifeboat are preparing to undertake their most ambitious fundraising effort yet – a continuous 24-hour, 120km endurance walk – to raise urgent funds for a replacement lifeboat that will safeguard lives on the Solent for decades to come.
Taking place on 28 March, The Hamble Challenge will see volunteer lifeboat crew walking non-stop through day and night in a powerful demonstration of commitment to the community they serve.
The charity’s current lifeboat ‘Harry Childs’, now retiring after more than 30 years of service, has helped save over 120 lives. Crew members say a dependable replacement vessel is now essential to continue responding safely and effectively to emergencies on one of the UK’s busiest stretches of water.
By taking on The Hamble Challenge, the team will honour her service by walking 1km for every life saved, non-stop, starting and ending where it all began, at the lifeboat station in Hamble. The route will cover their operating area across the Solent and Southampton water, taking in Gosport, Warsash, Southampton, Calshot and Hythe.
Hamble Lifeboat is an independent, entirely volunteer-run emergency service, operating without government funding and separate from the RNLI. The station relies solely on public donations to remain operational and the cost for a new boat can be up to £500,000.
Ben Madgwick from Hamble Lifeboat said: “Our lifeboat has served this community incredibly well for three decades, but now we are looking to the future and need a new platform that will serve the community for decades to come. The Hamble Challenge reflects the dedication of our volunteer crew and the urgent need to secure the future of this independent lifesaving service.”
The charity has consistently been in the top 10 busiest lifeboats in the UK over the last several years, responding to 125 incidents last year alone. Supporters are encouraged to follow the challenge, donate, and help ensure the next generation of lifesaving capability on the River Hamble and surrounding waters.
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