Marlow-Swanage by Bike and Kayak

GMS supports many charities in many different ways. Here is the endeavour of one GMS student, determined to make a difference to the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, an important charity that saves many lives every year. His name is Sam Chaplin and here he explains his ambition.

My name is Sam Chaplin (aged 13, just!) and I am raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) by cycling from my home in Marlow to Wareham 130 miles away, before kayaking 20 miles from Wareham to Swanage lifeboat station. I am completing this over 3 days between the 27th and 29th May this year (2018).

• Day 1: 70 miles, cycling from Marlow to Stockbridge:  Marlow, Henley, Reading, Newbury, Andover, Stockbridge
• Day 2: 60 miles, cycling from Stockbridge to Wareham: Stockbridge, Salisbury, Fordingbridge, Wareham
• Day 3: 20 miles, kayaking from Wareham to Swanage: RiverFrome, Poole Harbour Sandbanks, Swanage Lifeboat Station

Why the RNLI? I spend a lot of time on and in the water! I am a keen member of Great Marlow School’s Boat Club and Marlow Sea Cadets, I also kayak, sail, swim and water ski! I have visited a number of RNLI stations and seen the lifeboats go out in all weathers, despite the risk to their own lives, in order to help others. The idea for the challenge came from meeting family, friends,who live in Swanage, and crew on the lifeboat there. In fact there’s a chance the lifeboat will come out and escort me into their station for the last couple of miles.

As you will probably know, the RNLI is a charity that relies on donations and public support to continue saving lives at sea. They operate 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year from 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland. Their volunteer lifeboat crews rescue an average of 24 people every single day; the RNLI lifeguards patrol over 240 beaches helping over 20,000 people each year.

Supporting the RNLI (and me)
It would be fantastic if you would like to donate some money to the RNLI.
Every little helps so it really doesn’t matter how much, even if it’s just £1. THANK YOU.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sam-chaplin1