A sea of cash flows in for the lifeboats

RNLI supporters in Saddleworth are on the crest of a wave after one of the most successful fund-raising years ever.

And leading the way were four young Saddleworth friends who were rescued by lifeboats off the coast of Ireland as seas began to pound their vessel.

As a way of saying thanks, they organised a barbecue, social evening and auction at Dovestone Sailing Club, Greenfield, raising £1,200 for lifeboat funds.

One of the four rescued, trainee architect Emily McKee (24) of Greenfield, said: “When we got home we all started thinking about how we could give something back to the RNLI. Without its help things could have turned out differently.”

The cheque was gratefully received by the Saddleworth Ladies Lifeboat Guild which supports the RNLI, an organisation which depends entirely on voluntary contributions.

And now funds have been further swelled by the guild’s first-ever charity lunch. It was held last Sunday at the White Hart, Lydgate, and with a raffle and ticket sales it raised £2,300.

Chairman Joan Halkyard said: “The charity lunch was very successful and could well become an annual event.

“The money received this year makes this one of our most successful years to date.”