Swansea dad Steve Wood, who lost his 17-year-old son Lee in a tragic accident at sea, is facing an I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! style fundraising challenge outside the Mumbles RNLI lifeboat station this week. Spectators will see the brave competitor from Plasmarl covered in locusts, crickets and mealworms during the endurance test, which will raise funds for RNLI SOS Day 2010.
Steve will be battling against the clock to see how long he can tolerate the creepy crawlies on his face, which will be released when he shouts ‘SOS…Get Me Out Of Here!’ People across Wales have already pledged their support by logging on to Steve’s Justgiving fundraising page http://www.justgiving.com/RNLISOS-IMACELEBRITY and making a donation.
He hopes to have raised hundreds of pounds in time for the charity’s annual fundraising day on 29 January 2010, and is enjoying tremendous support from his friends at the online World Sea Fishing Forum.
People across Wales will be taking part in events inspired by the SOS acronym, from a Sip Our Soup lunch at Saundersfoot to a See Our Snowdrops open garden event in Pembrokeshire. Anyone wishing to take part in an event or make a donation can log on to www.rnli.org.uk/sos.
Steve says:
‘I’ve done some weird and whacky things to raise funds for the RNLI charity since they brought my boy’s body home. Nothing I do will ever thank them enough for what they did for us, but I must say this will be one of the most challenging things I’ve attempted, but if the celebrities can do it, then so can I!’
Swansea based World of Aquatics and Reptiles are providing the creepy crawlies and owner Dean Collier will be tasked with pouring the insects over Steve’s head. Crowds of supporters will join RNLI volunteers from the Mumbles in cheering on the intrepid fundraiser.
Steve has raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI charity since Lee died during a day out boating with his dad and a family friend. RNLI lifeboats from Horton, Tenby and Burry Port helped search for Lee’s body.
Previous challenges have included last year’s ‘Steve On Stilettos’ fundraiser when he spent the day in a pair of red heels. In 2008, he faced his ultimate fear by having a python wrapped around his neck during the ‘Snakes Or Spiders’ challenge.
Steve adds:
‘RNLI lifeboat crews answer SOS calls 365 days a year and anything I can raise to help them continue rescuing 21 people every day, then it will all be worthwhile. I hope people will dig deep to support me by coming along to the Mumbles, logging on to my website or organising their own events on SOS Day to support this fantastic charity.’
