Staff at Sainsbury’s in Upton choose lifeboat appeal as their charity for 2009

Jan 21 2009 by Sue McCann, Bromborough and Bebington News

THE RNLI’s Hoylake Lifeboat Appeal has been given a New Year boost by Sainsbury’s at Upton.

The store’s staff have selected the £2m RNLI appeal as their charity of the year and will be raising funds throughout 2009 to help pay for a new all-weather lifeboat at Hoylake.

The fundraising was launched with a collection in the store last Saturday with the help of the mayor of Wirral, Cllr Adrian Jones, and Hoylake RNLI coxswain Dave Whiteley.

Pat Percival, from Sainsbury’s, said: “Everyone who lives and works in the area is very aware of just how important the RNLI’s lifeboat service is.

“We are looking forward to being able to raise funds for the Hoylake Lifeboat Appeal this year and are very proud to be able to support Hoylake’s dedicated lifeboatmen and women in this way.”

The RNLI Hoylake Lifeboat Appeal has so far raised almost £1m for Hoylake’s new lifeboat station and is now focusing on fundraising for a new, faster lifeboat to replace Hoylake’s current Mersey class lifeboat Lady of Hilbre which is nearing the end of its operational life.

It will be replaced by a new generation of RNLI carriage launched lifeboat currently under development, called FCB2.

Dave Whiteley, said: “Local people have been very generous and have already helped us raise almost £1m.

“However, we still have a long way to go and being selected as charity of the year will help us get even closer to our £2m target.”

To contribute to the appeal, call 0845 650 3999, log on to www.rnli.org.uk/hoylake appeal or send a donation to RNLI Hoylake Appeal, Admail 4049, Hoylake, CH47 1AA.