Eight volunteers from a north-east lifeboat station are preparing to don their “yella wellies” for a 40-mile charity cycle.
Their challenge in aid of Peterhead RNLI will take them from the town’s harbour along the Buchan and Formartine Way to Fraserburgh and back on August 8.
The idea was inspired by their lifeboat colleagues in Appledore, north Devon, who launched the RNLI Tour de Yellow Welly fundraising concept in 2018.
Organiser Craig Aird, 36, said: “We’re putting a Doric twang on it and calling it the Tour o’ the Yella Welly.
“We thought this would raise a bit of money as well as get us outside again as I think a few of us have gained a few extra chins and inches round the belly during lockdown.”
Eight of the 25-strong team of crew, fundraisers and friends of the RNLI at Peterhead have signed up to the challenge, which if successful could become an annual or bi-annual event.
Mr Aird, who has been a volunteer for four years, said: “Some of our more well-known fundraising events have been knocked on the head this year because of Covid-19 so we are trying to come up with other ways to make money, publicise the work that the lifeboat does and attract new crew too.
“This is the first big cycle for a lot of the guys and I think there’s a few nerves about it already.”
The charity is relying on a host of alternative fundraising acts during 2020 to meet the team’s running costs of around £100,000 per year after the coronavirus and lockdown forced the cancellation of its usual events such as the traditional Peterhead Scottish Week buttery morning.
In July, townsfolk supported the charity by hosting virtual buttery mornings instead and donating as normal in the absence of the usual event in the Palace Hotel.
And this month the Peterhead Lifeboat’s fundraising committee is encouraging families to support its first fundraising scavenger hunt.
To take part donate £5 through the charity’s JustGiving page and e-mail Peterhead@rnli.org.uk with your name and email address to receive the questions and get started. All the answers can be found in the Blue Toon until Sunday, August 9.
Mr Aird and his team have already collected almost £500 on the Tour of the Yalla Wellies fundraising page, including a £150 donation from Ye Corporation of Squaremen Buchan Shed no 4.
He added: “Too many people are still drowning and more than ever people need the RNLI’s help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping our loved ones safe.”
To support the team, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tourotheyallawelly
