Three members from the charity will be using the UK’s only double paddleboard to travel 50 miles around the south west coast between 20-29 September 2008 to raise awareness of the RNLI’s Life first campaign, where more RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews are working alongside the lifeguards from the expanding RNLI lifeguard service.

Volunteer Development Manager for the RNLI, Rob Inett ,26, is one of the three men who will be using his muscle power to paddle around the coastline. He explains:

‘Around two out of three people will visit the beach at least once a year and in 2007 over 17,000 people were helped by the RNLI’s lifesavers so it is important to raise awareness of the potential dangers of the sea and to remind people that to keep themselves as safe as possible it is best to choose a lifeguarded beach.

He added:

‘The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for over 180 years but the lifeguards are a fairly new part of the charity’s service. We decided to do this challenge in order to raise awareness about the RNLI lifeguards and how these highly trained and well-equipped lifesavers work closely with the lifeboat volunteers to provide a seamless rescue service from the beach to the open sea. It is also important to highlight that the RNLI is a charity and without the generous support from people we would be unable to continue this invaluable service.’

The challenge involves Rob and his team mates, Rory Smith, 21, and James Fletcher, 26, using the 7m long paddleboard to travel from Poole, around the coast to Woolacombe in North Devon and then onto the Cardiff Bay Ski Race. They will be hoping for good weather as they brave the sea and make stops at RNLI lifeguard units and RNLI lifeboat stations along the way meeting the volunteer crews who work as a team to save lives at sea. Paddleboarding is a vital skill to beach lifeguards, and involves the paddlers either kneeling or lying on a narrow board, and paddling it using only their arms as propulsion.

‘We will be using a custom made paddleboard which is a double-length version of those used by RNLI lifeguards on the beaches.It requires a great deal of skill, fitness and muscular endurance to be able to paddle for an hour or more without stopping, and is a discipline that all RNLI Lifeguards must master’ added paddler Rory Smith.

RNLI Life first campaign manager, Will Stephens fully supports the team:

‘This is a fantastic challenge that will help raise awareness of the importance of having lifeguards and lifeboat crews working together. It takes a lot of strength and energy to paddle such a long distance in open sea and these guys have been training hard over the past few months to prepare. Everyone at the RNLI wishes them all the best.’

Notes to editors

· The Board
The board was custom built in Woolacombe in 2006 by board shaper Alan Neighbour. It is hand shaped and crafted from Polystyrene and glassed in epoxy fibreglass. The graphics have been applied using a 3D vinyl wrapping process. The board measures 7m in length, and is believed to be the only board of its type to ever be built in Europe. It weighs approximately 23kg, and is fitted with water speed and temperature sensors, GPS and handheld VHF communications.

· Team member Rory Smith
Rory, 21, lives in Parkstone, Poole. Rory grew up in Poole and trained as a lifeguard through Poole Lifeguard Club, and then worked for three seasons as an RNLI lifeguard at Sandbanks and Shore Road beaches. Rory graduated from Loughborough university in 2008 with a Degree in geography and has competed at junior international level in long distance open water swimming, and more recently at the 2008 World Lifesaving Championships in Berlin. Rory currently works for the RNLI as a Volunteer Development Officer.

· Team member Rob Inett
Rob, 26, lives in Parkstone, Poole. Rob grew up in Worcestershire, and trained as a  lifeguard and rescue boat helm through South Worcestershire Lifeguard Club. Rob managed the club's fleet of three inland rescue boats for four years, culminating in the flood rescue efforts of 2007 in Evesham. Rob graduated from Loughborough University in 2004 with a Degree in Industrial Design & Technology. Rob rowed at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester with James Fletcher, and together the pair reached the final trials selelction for the Great Britain Junior team in 2000. Rob went on to represent Wales in the single sculls at the Home International and Commonwealth Rowing Championships in 2002. Rob represented Lougborough Students Lifesaving Club at the 2004 and 2006 World Lifesaving Championships, and the 2005 European Championships. Rob is a member of the GB record-holding 4x50m rescue medley relay team. Rob currently works as Volunteer Development Manager for the RNLI Lifeguards, is a volunteer lifeguard at Bournemouth and a member of the RNLI Poole lifeboat crew.

· Team member James Fletcher
James, 26, lives in Guildford, Surrey. James grew up in Evesham, Worcestershire, and trained as a lifeguard through South Worcestershire Lifeguard Club. James was involved with the club in their rescue efforts in the 2007 floods in Evesham. James graduated from the University of Leicester in 2007 with a Masters degree in Geographic Information Systems. James formerly rowed together with Rob Inett at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, where the pair reached the final trials selelction for the Great Britain Junior team in 2000. James represented Great Britain U23s at the 2003 World Triathlon Championships in Madeira. James currently works for the Forestry Commission as a GIS mapper. James is currently training to be an RNLI volunteer lifeguard in Dorset in 2009, and is enrolled as an RNLI Lifeguard Support Volunteer.

· Members of the media are invited to meet the Rob, Rory and James between 3-4pm on 19 September before they set off on their challenge on 20 September.  There will be the photo and interview opportunity. Please call Claire Harris on 01202 336064 to arrange.

· Please find a picture attached of Rob, Rory and James.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Claire-marie Harris, RNLI Public Relations Officer on 01202 336064 or charris@rnli.org.uk or contact the RNLI press team on 01202 336789 

The RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk or www.rnli.ie. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press.

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.