GY10K: Push the boat out!

Welcome to the second in our series of articles showcasing the good causes benefitting from this year’s Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k.

We are once again proudly involved in the much-loved road race as a sponsor, and are delighted to be hosting the 2022 St Hugh’s Hospital Family Fun Run as part of the event on Sunday, June 5.

As we’ve already mentioned, seven local good causes are set to benefit from the event and we’re shining a spotlight on each one.

Today is the turn of the RNLI, a nationwide charity that probably needs no introduction. Powered primarily by donations, its 24-hour search and rescue service – manned by volunteers – has been saving lives for nearly 200 years. The charity also has a flood rescue team to help those affected by flooding.

The RNLI Cleethorpes team are a familiar sight on the seafront: a reassuring presence for locals and holidaymakers alike, for volunteers also act as seasonal lifeguards to look after people on busy beaches. But it’s not just in good weather that people get into difficulty – the Cleethorpes lifeboat was launched at 2.30am on a chilly December 19 last year… just one of many in a long list of call-outs during 2021.

Cleethorpes Lifeboat Station’s history can be traced back to 1868, and its crews have been presented with an impressive 10 awards for gallantry over the years.

It is also looking to the future – a new-look boathouse is in the offing, set to open in mid-2023.

The new station will be built on the beach in front of the current station and will provide the capability to position a second lifeboat at Cleethorpes, a more powerful B Class Atlantic 85, which will join the existing D Class lifeboat.

This will allow the charity to respond more quickly, in a wider range of weather conditions, to a larger variety of incidents while keeping its volunteers safer.

The station will be built on the beach in the front of the existing station and will have its own slipway for launch and recovery of the boats. Currently, the lifeboat has to cross a public road near a blind bend.

Changing and training facilities will also be much improved, and the RNLI shop will move on site as well, giving shop volunteers access to running water and a toilet, neither of which are available in the current shop. In total, the project will cost in the region of £3 million and will be funded by the RNLI.

A £200,000 fundraising appeal has been launched – and we are delighted that part of the proceeds from the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10k event will help out.

So, whether you are an avid runner or have recently taken up the sport, or want to have a fun day out with family and friends, sign up today!

Enter the St Hugh’s Hospital Family Fun Run here: www.tape2tape.co.uk/events/st-hughs-hospital-great-grimsby-family-fun-run-2022

And enter the Great Grimsby 10k road race here:  tape2tape.co.uk/events/great-grimsby-10k-3

There is a virtual option if you’re not quite ready to return to a live event, to run in your own time and wherever you feel safe.

Watch this space for more spotlights on the worthy causes set to benefit! A £1 donation is made from every race entry into a fund shared between each of them. Any local business who would like to support the event in some way can get in touch with the organisers at nicola@tape2tape.co.uk

Find out more about the local RNLI and volunteering opportunities here: rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/cleethorpes-lifeboat-station