IN November 2017 Port Isaac RNLI were invited to set up an appeal fund with a target of £52,000 in order to cover the cost of replacing their existing D class lifeboat, which was nearing the end of her operational life.

Ahead of schedule and in little over a year that amount was successfully raised. The volunteer fundraising committee were then pleased to announce an extension of the Port Isaac RNLI Lifeboat Appeal to cover funding for the new lifeboat’s equipment, operational costs and premises when due to enter service in September this year.

The extension to this appeal has been led by Port Isaac’s Virgin Money London Marathon Team. The team is made up of past and present volunteer crew members and partners. They spent many months training hard and carrying out various fund raising events to meet their £8,800 target. Events included a race night held at Port Isaac Village Hall, which raised £1,307 as well as a sweepstake to guess the combined marathon running time of the Port Isaac RNLI team.

Training was tough and sadly one member of the team had to pull out due to a persistent knee injury. Team member Carol Hambly described training as ‘hard work and time consuming, but enjoyable (and essential) nevertheless’.

The day of the marathon was overcast and cool — ideal running conditions. Richard Hambly described the marathon as ‘a fantastic event to be involved in and the support both in London and from Cornwall really helped in getting us all to the finishing line!’

The team completed the marathon with a combined time of 31 hours, 31 minutes and 21 seconds and have so far raised an amazing £9,459.64. Those wishing to make a donation can still do so via justgiving.com https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/port-isaac-marathon-runners