Charity

Cruise Line company donates £50,000 to the RNLI

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2024

FRED. OLSEN Cruise Lines has raised £50,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution – surpassing its 2023 target by an incredible £10,000

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) longest-standing corporate partner, and for more than 60 years, has been working together with guests to fundraise towards saving lives at sea.

Since 2000, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and their guests have collected more than £1.4million which has funded five inshore lifeboats, three mobile training units, three seminar rooms at the RNLI College in Poole, the development and funding of three lifeboat-launching trolleys, crew member training and crew equipment.

Across the fleet of three smaller ships Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines raised £50,000 through a variety of fundraising events, including guests on board Borealis’ world cruise being challenged to walk, run, cycle and swim 34,849 miles – the equivalent distance of their ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ cruise.

Dr Kate Bunyan, Director of Health Services at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and RNLI Volunteer, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be the RNLI’s longest-standing corporate partner, with a relationship that has spanned more than 60 years.

“As a volunteer Lifeboat Medical Adviser for the RNLI, I also have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible work that volunteers put in to protect lives at sea and the impact that each donation to the RNLI makes. We look forward to continuing our fundraising in the years to come.”

Jayne George, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Media at the RNLI, said: “Our corporate partners are vital to our fundraising efforts to save lives at sea. We cherish the relationships we share with our corporate partners, and we’re incredibly proud for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to be our longest-standing corporate partner, with a relationship that has spanned more than half a century.

“The £50,000 donation from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and their guests is an incredible aid to our fundraising efforts and we can’t wait to work together in 2024 and beyond.”

The five lifeboats funded by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fundraising, include the Pride of Fred. Olsen in 2019, and the Spirit of Fred. Olsen which launched in the picturesque Scottish Highland village of Kyle of Lochalsh in April 2012.

In June, guests on board Balmoral were on deck to wave at the Spirit of Fred. Olsen when it pulled alongside the ship as it passed the Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI lifeboat station in Scotland. The lifeboat was launched after £170,000 was raised to coincide with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines commemorating its 170th birthday and celebrating 50 years of partnership with the RNLI.

The relief lifeboat, an Atlantic 85, capable of up to 35 knots, was built at the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat production facility on the Isle of Wight and the name was chosen for the lifeboat by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ guests Margaret Whittington, Peter Ruck and Joan Hutchings in a competition onboard its fleet of smaller-sized ships.

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ partnership with the RNLI, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com/rnli

Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

Published

1 day ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.

Charity

Mum takes on half marathon to give back to NHS

Published

2 days ago

June 22, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

KATE DAVIES is taking on the Wales Half Marathon to say thank you to the NHS services that supported her during a difficult time.

Kate, a mother of one who works in operational workforce at Withybush Hospital, is heading to Tenby on June 28 to take on the Wales Half Marathon at Long Course Weekend Wales to raise funds for Cilgerran Ward at Glangwili Hospital.

Having been in good health for much of her life, Kate has been fortunate to not need many Hywel Dda University Health Board services until recent years.

Kate said: “The journey to becoming a parent wasn’t straightforward, and I experienced several difficult and emotional setbacks along the way. Throughout this time, I was supported with great care, kindness and compassion by various services across the health board, for which I will always be grateful.

“In December 2023, under the care of Glangwili consultants, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I’m incredibly grateful and fortunate that I have a fantastic, healthy and happy two-year-old daughter.

“To celebrate, I have signed up to take part in the Long Course Wales Half Marathon! I would love to raise money to give back to the health board that was there when I needed it.

“I can think of nothing better than reaching the finish line in good health, with my daughter waiting for me, knowing I have raised funds and given back to say thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has donated.”

Tara Nickerson, Fundraising Manager, said: “What a heartfelt story. A huge thanks to Kate for taking on the Wales Half Marathon to support a service so close to her heart. We look forward to cheering her on!

“The generous charitable donations we receive don’t replace NHS funding. Instead, they are used to provide items and activities above and beyond core NHS expenditure, such as more welcoming surroundings for patients, families and staff, and research into, and the development of, treatments.”

You can donate to Kate’s fundraiser here: https://hyweldda.enthuse.com/pf/kate-davies

Charity

Welsh gold prize helps Cancer Research Wales mark 60 years

Published

2 days ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A DIAMOND-set Welsh gold necklace donated by Clogau will headline a special fundraising raffle marking 60 years of Cancer Research Wales.

The award-winning jewellery brand has gifted the necklace as the grand prize in the charity’s inaugural 60th Anniversary Diamond Raffle, which will raise funds for research, diagnosis and treatment projects across Wales.

The prize was unveiled at Clogau’s Cardiff store by Cancer Research Wales ambassador and Miss United Kingdom Millie-Mae Adams, who received it on behalf of the charity.

Clogau, founded in North Wales, is internationally known for jewellery containing rare Welsh gold. Its heritage is closely linked to the Royal Family, with Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine used in royal wedding rings for more than a century.

Ben Roberts, Managing Director of Clogau, said: “We are incredibly proud to support Cancer Research Wales as it celebrates this remarkable 60-year milestone.

“As a Welsh business with deep roots in our communities, we recognise the impact cancer has on families across the country and the importance of investing in research that can save and improve lives.

“We hope this beautiful Welsh gold necklace will help generate significant support for the raffle and encourage people to get behind the charity’s vital work.”

Millie-Mae, a proud Welsh speaker and doctor in training, is also the founder of Exeter Street Doctors, a charity which equips young people with lifesaving first aid skills.

She said: “As a proud ambassador of the charity, it is my privilege to play my part in Cancer Research Wales’s 60th anniversary and be here today to unveil the first prize in the 60 Anniversary Diamond Raffle – a stunning, diamond-set gold necklace, generously donated by Clogau.

“The gift of life and time with our loved ones is the most precious thing in the world, so please show your support for Cancer Research Wales’s life-saving and life-prolonging work today by entering the raffle.

“You could win this stunning Clogau gold necklace while helping to fund vital cancer research here in Wales.”

Millie-Mae also advocates for health education through her Medic Millie Mondays social media series and delivered the first Welsh-language Street Doctors session. Her work with Cancer Research Wales is shaped in part by her own family’s experience of cancer.

Lisa Buckley, Head of Income Generation at Cancer Research Wales, said: “I’m very grateful to Clogau and Millie-Mae Adams for supporting us to launch our 60 Anniversary Diamond Raffle – our first ever raffle, as we celebrate 60 years as the independent Welsh cancer research charity and 60 years of innovation in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“Since 1966, we have invested £41.68 million to push the boundaries of cancer research discoveries here in Wales and we couldn’t have done that without the kindness of the Welsh public and our fantastic business community.

“Thank you for your support over the years and together we will unite Wales against cancer.”

Cancer Research Wales says the raffle will help support projects aimed at improving cancer outcomes for people across the country.

To enter the raffle, visit www.cancerresearch.wales.

Prize unveiled:

Miss United Kingdom Millie-Mae Adams received the necklace on behalf of Cancer Research Wales at Clogau’s Cardiff store (Pic: Paul Fears).