Triathlon for Margate RNLI, no problem for nine year old Cub Scout

A nine-year old Cub Scout from Margate has completed a gruelling 21km triathlon to raise funds for charity as part of his efforts to gain the Chief Scout Silver Award.

Jacob Websdale is a Cub Scout with Holy Trinity Sea Scout Group and was challenged by Akela, Carole Pankhurst to raise funds for charity to gain his award. Jacob took up that challenge and on Easter Sunday completed the triathlon by swimming 1km, running 5km and cycling nearly 15km, almost 5km more than his target. In the process Jacob raised £275 for Margate RNLI and £275 for Thanet Lifeguard Club of which he is a member.

Jacob presents the cheque to Chris Andrews, Station Mechanic Margate Lifeboat, far right is Scout Joel Goodwin, a member of the lifeboat crew.

Recently, Jacob and his group attended the lifeboat station at Margate to hand over the cheque to Chris Andrews, Station Mechanic Margate Lifeboat, the occasion arranged in conjunction with Joel Goodwin a Scout member himself and also a member of the lifeboat crew. On the same occasion, Jacob was presented with his Chief Scout Silver Award, the highest available to a Cub, by Thanet District Cubs Assistant District Commissioner Malcomb Johns.

Peter Barker, Deputy Launching Authority, Margate RNLI Lifeboat said: “This is an incredible achievement for a nine-year old with the bonus that the RNLI and Thanet Lifeguard Club are benefiting from his efforts. We thank Jacob and his Group for the donation which will help us in our work of saving lives at sea – well done Jacob!”

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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