Porthcawl RNLI volunteers, Porthcawl Coastguard Unit together with their families and friends took part in a charity cycle ride around Porthcawl on Saturday afternoon.
The purpose of the event was to raise money for the benefit of Logan Evans, grandson of the late Mike Evans who had served Porthcawl lifeboat for forty years. Within minutes of the cyclists returning to the lifeboat station a ‘launch request’ was received from Swansea Coastguard. Two people at sea in an inflatable kayak had called 999.
One of the fund raising organisers Ross Martin, a close friend of Mike, said, ‘Last year we did a similar event to raise money towards the cost of a memorial bench in honour of Mike, this is now outside the RNLI lifeboat station exactly where Mike would enjoy a chat with his colleagues on the crew. Tragically earlier this year his grandson Logan was orphaned and so the crew thought it would be a good way to raise some money for Logan’s benefit by repeating last year’s event. Members of Logan’s family also joined in the cycle ride and with his grandmother and guardian Myra Evans, Logan who is now 1 year old, supported the cyclists throughout the afternoon.
We cycled along the seafront via Rest Bay and had a welcome break at Nottage Green before setting off back to the lifeboat station. Later in the evening crew members helped with a barbeque and supper again raising more money for Logan. Thanks to everyone who took part young and old and those who supported us with raffle prizes, food etc., it was a full and tiring day but worth every minute’.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Philip Missen MBE said, ‘Whilst we all had a very successful fundraising event there was also a serious part to the afternoon. Our lifeboat ‘Rose of the Shires’ was launched to rescue two male casualties who feared for their own safety when paddling about half a mile off the seafront. The weather changed and the sea quickly turned from being calm to becoming quite choppy. Within minutes we had them safely aboard the lifeboat, a little wet but relieved to be rescued. During the rescue Porthcawl Coastguard unit, who were also at the station following the cycle ride, supported the call via radio communication with Swansea and providing the casualties with some sea safety information’.
