Penlee's pedallers - saddle sores - not us!

Six members of Penlee’s volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew are training in preparation for a gruelling 50 mile cycle around the hills, valleys, twists and turns of the west Cornwall peninsula on Saturday 29 January for the charity’s SOS Day.

The Swift On Saddles challenge will take the intrepid crew from the lifeboat station in Newlyn, up the A30 to St Ives, along to Lands End and finally back to the station. Meanwhile, other members of the volunteer crew will be doing their annual Soap Our Saloons car wash between 10am and 4pm at the inshore lifeboat station. Here people can get their cars washed by the crew while enjoying a hotdog from their Sizzle Our Sausages BBQ.

Patrick Harvey, RNLI Coxswain at Penlee lifeboat station says the team, made up of volunteer crewmembers, David Raymond, Sam Gillchrest, Zac Haining, Wayne Davey, Paul Kneebone, are determined to finish the 50 mile route in under eight hours, he says; ‘We’ve been training hard in the gym and on our bikes, every weekend we have done a long ride, it was especially hard going in the wind and rain we had on Saturday. Some of the hills are long and steep; it’s going to be very tough, but we want to finish within our time limit and get back in time to enjoy a burger on the BBQ!’

So far the crew have raised over £600 in sponsorship, but need help to reach their target of £2,000 which will go towards the training and equipment the volunteer crew and lifeguards need to do their lifesaving work safely. There’s no shortage of options in supporting the crew; visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/penleehttp://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/penlee , fill out one of the many sponsorship forms in Newlyn or pay a visit to the boathouse to make a donation.