Crosshaven family makes RNLI appeal

The parents of a Crosshaven RNLI crew member are making a special call to people to support the charity’s annual Christmas appeal after volunteers faced an extra busy year and increased costs.

The RNLI has seen a drop in income in 2020 as traditional fundraising activities had to be cancelled. The lifesaving charity also had to spend extra funds to ensure its volunteer lifeboat crews had vital PPE.

During an extraordinary year, lifeboat crews wearing additional PPE and adapting to restrictions continued to respond to callouts and work throughout the pandemic to keep people safe.

As lockdown restrictions eased, between the months of July to October, lifeboats at Ireland’s 46 stations, launched 512 times with their crews bringing 793 people to safety. The statistics reflect an increase of 33 more launches and 164 more people aided, on the same four-month period last year.

Robert and Colette Foster whose daughter Caoimhe, 20, is a volunteer crew member on Crosshaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, know how important it is for crews to have the right lifesaving kit and PPE.

“We are very proud that Caoimhe has been a volunteer lifeboat crew member in Crosshaven for three years now,” her father Robert said.

“As parents, we are very proud, but we also worry when the pager beeps and Caoimhe is called out to save others who are in trouble. There is always such a sense of relief when she helps to bring those in difficulty back to safety but also when she returns home safely herself.”

Caoimhe joined the lifesaving crew at Cosshaven RNLI as soon as turned 17 and was eligible to become a crew member, along with her friend Molly Murphy.

Having sailed since the age of eight and seeing the lifeboat respond to call outs when she was on the water herself inspired her to join.

“It can be difficult seeing her leave when the pager goes. We worry about what she might go through when she is out on a shout. Even at Christmas, we know that she might have to drop everything like the other volunteers in Crosshaven and run out the door to go and save someone’s life,” Robert added.

Caoimhe said a donation to the charity would make a great difference: “RNLI volunteers have had a challenging year but thankfully, with many additional safety measures and procedures in place to ensure our safety, we have remained on call 24/7 throughout the pandemic. We have our standard PPE but now also wear masks and gloves and take extra precautions at sea.

“The best Christmas gift RNLI volunteers like me can wish for, is a kind donation to our Christmas appeal. Funds raised will provide the lifesaving kit we need when we are at sea and helping to bring someone to safety,” Caoimhe added.

To support visit RNLI.org/Xmas.