Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeguards in Ceredigion will be taking it to the max in surf and on turf on Sunday 8 August.
Twenty-five lifeguards from the county will be taking part in an Aquathalon – a 1500-metre swim and five-kilometre run – to bring in funds for the charity that saves lives at sea.
Fundraising buckets have been out on Ceredigion’s beaches this past week as part of RNLI Lifeguard Week to ask for financial backing for the intrepid lifeguards who will be doing the Aquathalon on Sunday evening from 7.30pm onwards.
The event consists of a 1500 metre swim from Tresaith Beach to Aberporth, followed by a five-kilometre run along the coastal path to return to Tresaith, where the evening will be rounded off with a celebratory drink and meal at the Ship Inn.
Ceredigion area lifeguard supervisor Elin Jones hopes the Aquathalon will be a fitting way to round off what has been a busy and successful Lifeguard Week in Ceredigion.
She was particularly pleased with an excellent day on a packed beach at Tresaith on Sunday 1 August, where about 150 children found out what was involved in being a professional lifeguard.
The lifeguards put the youngsters through their paces with exercises in beach safety, fitness, and rescues, along with handing out educational material about the RNLI to the children.
Elin said: ‘Lifeguard week is a tradition we have established over the past couple of years to raise awareness of the vital work done by RNLI lifeguards and to explain to the people on the beaches that we are a charity that relies on the funds it raises from members of the public.
‘Nationally, the RNLI needs nearly £160 million a year to keep its services going, of which just over £8 million goes towards funding the lifeguard service, which covers over 150 beaches in the UK.
‘By raising money it means that we can maintain a full-time, professional lifeguard service on eight beaches in Ceredigion throughout the summer season from the end of June until the second week of September.
‘We hope that people in the area will come out and support us in our Aquathalon efforts on Sunday from 7.30pm to 9pm, and that they feel they can also give us their backing financially.’
Last year, RNLI lifeguards in Ceredigion came to the aid of 212 people, as part of an overall total for Wales of 1,410 people aided.
Elin explained what the public’s donations could mean in assisting the RNLI’s lifeguard service: ‘Every year it costs £580 to train and over £450 to equip each lifeguard. We think that provides excellent value for the professional service that is delivered.
‘Doing an event like the Aquathalon serves two purposes. Firstly it shows how fit RNLI lifeguards are, and secondly it allows the public to show their appreciation of that fitness and professionalism by backing us financially.’
