Pals ready for coastline challenge

Wednesday 18th April 2012

Plumber Tom Marsland is to visit all 200 Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) stations as part of a summer fundraising challenge.

He will be travelling more than 5,300 miles in his work's van on the Tom Plumb Station Run covering the UK coastline, including the Orkneys, Shetland and the Scillies.

Tom, a RNLI crew volunteer in Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, will be joined by pal Dave Tattersfield, a West Yorkshire firefighter. Together they are raising funds for the RNLI and The Fire Fighter's Charity.

The pair will start in Tobermory in July and aim to be back in the village for Lifeboat Day on August 19.

Tom, 44, said: "I joined the Tobermory crew just over a year ago so I know first hand how important training is to enable volunteers like me, with no previous maritime experience to help save lives at sea.

"However, training is expensive and it costs more than £1,200 each year to train a lifeboat crew member. The Tom Plumb Station Run is my way of raising money to help support our crews around the coast."

Tom and Dave, from Wakefield, will be sharing the driving as they travel around the coast, and will receive help from fire stations.

Tom said: "We are getting a huge amount of logistical support from fire stations around the UK, including accommodation and fuel for the Tom Plumb van.

"Having been friends with Dave for 10 years, I understand what a tough job firefighters have and so we're also proud to be raising funds for the Fire Fighters' Charity which provides support to fire service personnel and their families."

To support Tom and Dave, visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/tomplumbstationrun.

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