An event for every tasteRNLI doesn't mean that you have to organise your own event. Maybe you fancy something a little different or physically demanding?The RNLI is involved in hundreds of fun and action-packed fundraising events throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. There are themed cocktail and dinner parties, sponsored walks, parachute jumps and many running events for people of all ages and abilities. To find out more about these kinds of events in your region log on to our new events website at www. rn I i. o rg. u k /e vents.

The new site is easy to navigate and allows users to sign up for a variety of events. By clicking on one of the four event categories - running, water, adrenaline and fun - users can browse and sign up straight away. The RNLI will help you every step of the way with your fundraising and any training you may need for the event.

With the RNLI's aim of doubling membership and the need for greater fundraising, users can also make credit card donations or join as a member on the events website. Users can be assured that all transactions are within a secure payment area. The website also enables the Regional Event Organisers to email those signed up for a particular event -information and facts about event training and fundraising can be sent at the touch of a button.

Once you have taken part in an event, you'll be able to go back to the site to see photos from the day and information about the money raised from the event.

The following examples are just two of the many events you will be able to see on the website.

RNLI Whitewater rafting experience This year sees the fifth anniversary of this event in the Wales and West Merda region. Over 750 people have taken part so far and the event has raised over £60,000 for the RNLI - as well as gaining a great reputation and considerable coverage in the local and national press.Teams of between four and seven people compete in the experience, with each entrant promising to raise at least £100 to take part. Teams have three attempts to battle the course of rapids at the worldfamous Canolfan Tryweryn National Whitewater Centre in Bala, North Wales.

It is a popular method of team building and employee socialising for local and corporate companies. The fastest team at the end of the day wins the champion's trophy to take back with them for a year.

The rafts are skippered by professional instructors from the centre who join the teams on their session and brief them on safety and rafting techniques before they hit the water. Most people taking part have never done anything like it before but get increasingly competitive with each attempt, as they tackle rapids including 'the graveyard' and 'the ski slope1.

This exciting event attracts people from all over the British Isles and teams include people from all walks of life including the Forces, teams of friends and family, firefighters, community groups, work colleagues and sports teams. Teams have even come from as far afield as Essex and Edinburgh. Many of the teams stay in the beautiful Bala area for the whole weekend and come back year after year to take part. It's also a very sociable event - many people bring friends and family to cheer them on and make firm friends among the other competing teams.

This year's event takes place on 6 June and places are already filling fast. If youare interested in taking part, please contact Event Organiser Tamsin Davies on 029 2045 6999 or email [email protected]. Information and online sign up is also available from the Events website at www.rnli.org.uk/events.

Due to the success of this event, a second Whitewater rafting event, in conjunction with ASDA, is to be held in Stockton-on- Tees on 23 May. Contact Lisa Cowen for further information (contact details below).

James Bond Christmas party Secret agent 007 arrived at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool for a special mission on 5 December 2003. He was assigned to help the North West region raise money towards the cost of training lifeboat crew" members at Blackpool, Fleetwood and Lytham St Annes stations, as part of the Fylde Crew Training Appeal. This was the first time such an event had been held in the North West region. Not only did the 400 paying guests help to raise £6,500 but the party gave the RNLI a great opportunity to promote its work to an audience that may not be currently giving support.

The evening included a shaken, not stirred vodka-martini cocktail on arrival and a four-course black-tie dinner.This was followed by an auction, with prizes donated by national and local companies; a fun-money casino and dancing into the small hours. To complement the theme, an Aston Martin car was on show along with wax works of Bond characters and volunteer Bond dancers.

Event Organiser Lisa Cowen was thrilled with the success of the first party and is now planning for this year's Christmas Viva Las Vegas party. When the show girts and entertainment have been organised for what is going to be a highly glamorous event the details will be posted on the events website at www.rnli.org.uk/events.

For information about this and future events in the North West region, contact Lisa Cowen on 0161 787 8779 or email [email protected] challenge Brighton fundraisers tike a good challenge and two rather different initiatives recently raised £1,600 between them.

Gemma Sharp from Brighton raised £1,000 in sponsorship by running in three marathons. She said: 'I've always wanted to run marathons since the age of 18 and it just seemed right to raise money for the local lifeboat.' Gemma trained hard for a year and achieved a best running time of 3 hours and 25 minutes. She handed over her hard-earned cheque during a visit to the station where she and her mum enjoyed a guided tour from the crew and Senior Helmsman Mark Smith.

Customers at The White Horse at Rottingdean in Brighton took part in slightly less strenuous" challenge that raised £655. John Ellis, manager of the pub, invited customers to balance a coin on a lemon that was floating in a bowl of water. If the coin fell into the water, the money went to the RNLI - if the coin stayed on, the customer won. It can be done but, fortunately, many coins fell off, Members of the lifeboat crew turned up in force to express their thanks to John and his customers when the cheque was handed over.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Alan Young said:'These two sums are fantastic.

Between them, these two local initiatives have raised enough money to cover our lifeboat's fuel costs for a year.

The volunteer crew and everyone at the station wishes to thank the people who gave money to help save lives at sea.'Follow the bear As with many inland branches without their 'own' lifeboats, the Dumfries branch has been finding it difficult to stay afloat. However, the branch recently welcomed new recruit Mr Fletcher Christian to the ranks (below).

Mr Christian proved that bears have huge amounts of stamina when it comes to fundraising.The local Tesco superstore kindly allowed the branch to hold a collection day at the end of 2003 and the little bear stood for hours, with five branch members working in shifts, and helped collect £450.

'This could have been more if we had had more collectors, said branch Chair Margaret Irving, 'Bears never seem to get sore feet. Human collectors, not in their first flush of youth, do not have the same staying power.1 So, is there anyone out there in the Dumfries area willing to give the branch a hand? If so please follow Mr Christian's example and contact Margaret on 01387254130.Anyone for an Arun? The new fleet of Severn and Trent class lifeboats have gradually been replacing Arun class lifeboats as and when they reach the end of their operational life.

Aruns have been offered for sale for several years now and the RNLI currently has four available at a price of £150,000 each, subject to survey.

It is RNLI policy to offer these boats to other lifeboat or search and rescue organisations first so that they can continue to be used as lifeboats for the purpose of saving lives. If there is no requirement from such organisations the boats are offered for sale to the general public. The RNLI vessel sale agreement has strict guidelines over colour, names and use; and the boats are sold with the superstructure painted grey to a workboat standard. It is a condition of sale that the RNLI colours are not reinstated and that the boat does not operate in a way in which could be mistaken for an operational lifeboat.

If you would like further information on the boats available, please contact Disposals Coordinator Eileen Taber on 01202 663442 or email [email protected] way to raise funds The RNLI is set to profit from an open day at Longstock Water Gardens in Stockbridge, Hampshire on Sunday 18 July. The gardens are part of the Leckford Estates owned by The John Lewis Partnership. The company grants 12 open days to charity each year and the RNLI should benefit by over £3,500 from gate receipts.

The Chairman and fundraisers of Bassett branch are hoping for fine weather on the day and look forward to working in such beautiful and tranquil surroundings. Area Fundraising Manager Fiona Heath said: 'It is a privilege to be granted an open day at Longstock Water Gardens and I look forward to working with Bassett branch Chairman Stuart Thompson, who was instrumental in the successful bid, and the staff of the gardens to ensure we maximise the opportunity granted to us.' Entry fees are £4 per adult and 50p for children under 14. The gardens are open from 2-5pm and the nursery, which is the home of the national collection of buddleia, contains a wide selection of fine plants for sale. Visitors can also enjoy refreshments in the nursery tearooms.

For further information contact Fiona Heath on 023 9259 4126.Grand draw winner Recently retired Head of National Fundraising and Communications Richard Mann found himself in a lifeboat full of tickets when he drew the winners of the RNLI's regional Grand Prize Draw 2003 on 10 December 2003 in Poole.

Mrs Penny Edwards from the Wales and West Mercia region snapped up first prize of a Land Rover Freelander with sports body kit. Susan Sheldon from the North West won second prize of a seven-day Mediterranean cruise and third prize, of a Fortnum and Mason hamper, went to Liz Munday from the South West.

Ten runner-up prizes of a RNLI fleece went to: Mrs J Childs, Greater London; Christine Ingham, North East; Martyn Law, Scotland; STE Milton, North West; B Peters, North; MA Popper, Northwest; Miss H Potts, South East;TWelford, East; Mr E Williams, Wales and West Mercia; and Owen Woodward, Wales and West Mercia.Jewellery saves lives Your unwanted or broken jewellery and collectables can help save lives at sea thanks to the RNLI's 2004 Jewellery Appeal. Last year's appeal raised nearly £32,600 and, since the appeal began in 1986, the sale of unwanted jewellery and medals has brought in a total of £494,317.

Jewellery Appeal Organiser Roy Norgrove said: 'We would be delighted to receive any good quality items of jewellery including rings of all kinds, small objets d'art, brooches, bracelets, chains and watches that are no longer required.

Gold and silver articles would be very much appreciated, as would war medals and memorabilia, which are very collectible at present.' If you can help, please send any unwanted jewellery and collectables to Roy Norgrove, Jewellery Appeal Organiser, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. Thank you.asterCard returns You may have noticed that the advert for the Lifeboats MasterCard has been missing from the last few issues of the Lifeboat. However, we are pleased to announce that it is being relaunched.The Lifeboats MasterCard, issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland, now has improved terms and conditions for cardholders. It is a valuable source of income for the RNLI and helped raise nearly £80,000 last year. So if you are not a cardholder, please turn to the advertisement on page 7 and return the coupon or call freephone 0800 444201 to apply for the only card that helps saves lives at sea. If you already have a Lifeboats MasterCard please remember that every time you use it, you are supporting the RNLI.

We are also pleased to announce that Travelscope, who regularly advertise their cruise holidays in the Lifeboat, are now making a donation to the RNLI on every holiday booked through their advert on page 28 of this issue. So why not start planning your next holiday and help fundraise at the same time?ecycle your mobile_ Ever wondered what to do with your old mobile phone? The RNLI events team has come up with the answer: a new scheme to raise money from recycling old mobiles. The RNLI is contacting companies to ask if they will join the scheme and encourage their employees to contribute old phones. For every mobile that can be reused, the RNLI receives up to £5. We supply the company with collection boxes and posters and even arrange to collect the boxes when they are full. As well as raising around £125 per box, the scheme is environmentally friendly. If you can help by placing mobile phone recycling boxes at work or in your local community, please contact the events team on [email protected] or phone 01738 642999.Megger to the When lifeboat technicians in the east division needed new test meters for fault finding on lifeboats they spoke to Tony Hawkins at the Dover lifeboat station. Tony works at Megger Ltd, who produce a wide range of electric test and measurement equipment. A few calls later.

Megger kindly agreed to donate five test meters for the technicians to use. Divisional Technician Cwyn Pritchard said:'We are really pleased with these new meters - they are robust and very accurate which will be a great asset to us in our work. Many thanks to Megger Ltd and Tony Hawkins.'Busking for brass Ten-year-old James Buckle raised over £300 for the RNLI before Christmas by playing festive favourites on his trombone in the foyer of his local Co-op. James, son of Swanage lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority Charles Buckle, busked three morning sessions of one and a half hours - raising just over a pound a minute.

It takes a great deal of stamina to blow a trombone for that length of time and James, who passed grade four with distinction at the tender age of nine, put in extra practice for his fundraising feat. He was supported by his parents who collected the cash and cleared it with the supermarket manager and local council.

As well as supporting the Swanage lifeboats, the budding musician is a dinghy sailor and a member of Storm Force, the RNLI's membership for young people.

Well done James!.