Looe RNLI thanks five-year-old for her 59-mile summer challenge

Fifty miles was the target. Louise, who is five, kept going until she had covered 59.

The young Looe fundraiser was invited to the lifeboat station by Looe RNLI volunteer crew at the start of a Wednesday evening training session, so they could thank her in person for a donation of £230.

Walking, cycling, swimming and baking

While most children her age spent the summer holidays relaxing, Louise set herself a challenge to raise money for three causes.

The plan was to walk, cycle and swim 50 miles (more than 80km) between them, and to bake 100 cupcakes to sell along the way.

She started on 1 August, squeezing in the miles between family trips, and reached her 50-mile goal ahead of schedule on 19 August. Then she carried on to see how far she could push herself. By the end of the month she had clocked up 59 miles.

Why she picked the lifeboat crew

Looe RNLI was one of her three chosen causes. Louise is already a proud member of Stormforce and a regular visitor to the boathouse, where she loves chatting with the volunteers. One day she hopes to join the crew herself.

“I chose the RNLI because they help people when they’re poorly or stuck, and I like going in the station to see the boats,” said Louise.

£690 raised in total

Between the miles and the baking, Louise raised £690 altogether, with £230 of it going directly to Looe RNLI.

She brought something else with her too. Louise had coloured in a picture of RNLI mascot Stormy Stan, and she presented it to the volunteer crew. Underneath, in pencil, she had written: “I love it and don’t you.”

📷Louise's coloured-in picture of RNLI mascot Stormy Stan, presented to Looe RNLI volunteer crew. Credit: Looe RNLI