Half of the money raised from Row Round Cornwall will go to the RNLI's "Train one, save many" campaign.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a registered charity that saves lives at sea. It provides the 24 hour on-call service to cover search and rescue requirements out to 100 nautical miles from the coast of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and a seasonal beach lifeguard service on appropriate beaches in the South West of England. The RNLI is independent from Government and continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income.

Last year it cost £119 million to run the RNLI. For every £1 spent, 80p is spent on the rescue service itself, which includes the cost of the crew, the boats and station properties as well as sea safety and education, 16p is used for fundraising and 4p for support. In 2005 RNLI lifeboats launched 8,273 times compared to 7,656 the previous year – an 8 per cent increase nationally. More significantly, launches in the south west more than doubled this trend and have increased 16%.

In Cornwall there are 14 lifeboat stations and 33 Beach Lifeguard units. In the county, the busiest RNLI lifeboat station last year was Falmouth where the inshore and all weather lifeboats launched 66 times to rescue 96 people. There are over 350 lifeboat crew members in Cornwall. They are mostly volunteers who come from many walks of life within their local communities and will readily exchange leisure, comfort and sleep for cold, wet and fatigue. Crews spend many hours of their own time training to become highly skilled and efficient. Their lifesaving work is essential, often difficult and sometimes dangerous.

Last year in one incident Falmouth’s Severn class all weather lifeboat rescued 8 lives from a merchant vessel in 10m seas and winds gusting to Force 11. For this service Coxswain Mark Pollard has been awarded the RNLI’s Bronze Medal for Gallantry, and his six man crew medal service badges and certificates.

Click here to visit the RNLI "Train one, save many" campaign website.