THE finish line is in sight for an eye-catching sports car which is sticking to dry land to help volunteers save lives at sea.
Retired Londoners Belinda and James Richardson are visiting all 238 of the UK and Ireland’s RNLI stations in their Porsche 911 in just 911 hours.
Their goal is to raise enough money to buy a new D class lifeboat for the RNLI relief’s fleet.
So far, the couple have raised £83,000 of their target of about £100,000.
Belinda and James, whose appreciation for the RNLI came after owning a boat on the River Thames 20 years ago, began their epic 8,500-mile journey in Morecambe at 9.11am on August 23.
It is hoped that the chequered flag will be waving when they reach Peel, on the Isle of Man, at the same time on September 30.
On Tuesday, they reached Dunbar, which operates a D class as well as an all-weather Trent class.
Belinda said that there were many similarities between the inshore lifeboat and their eye-catchingly branded Porsche 911 car – nicknamed Splash – which bears the names of RNLI stations and sponsors.
She said: “They are the same width and length, both have engines at the back and the first 911 was launched in 1963, the same year as the first D class.
“A new Porsche Carrera today costs about the same as a new D class, so there is lovely symmetry between the two.
“The reason we have chosen a D class is that it is the workhorse of the RNLI fleet, responsible for 60 per cent of shouts, and a relief boat could benefit the whole network.”
Volunteers from Dunbar’s lifeboat crew and shop were there to greet the couple, along with staff from Paris Steele legal firm, which sponsored the visit to the town.
James said: “We are so grateful to Paris Steele, who sponsored Dunbar Station.
“The challenge wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors.”
After presenting the station with a specially designed jigsaw and Top Trumps-style cards which feature callout statistics for all stations, the couple bade farewell for the next leg of their journey.
Gary Fairbairn, Dunbar RNLI coxswain, wished them well in their bid to reach the remaining 142 stations.
He said: “We were delighted to welcome Belinda and James to the station and we wish them all the best for the rest of their challenge.”
To donate to the challenge, go to rnli-911challenge.co.uk
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