Jordan Mansfield
This month sees Oxford and Cambridge go head to head once more in the annual Boat Race, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has been chosen as the Race’s new charity partner.
The partnership aims to increase awareness of the RNLI’s flagship ‘Respect the Water’ drowning prevention campaign and to raise funds to support the Thames’ lifesaving service.
All monies will go towards essential crew training at Chiswick Lifeboat Station and in addition, the RNLI’s Community Safety team will be working with venues along the course to train staff on water safety, such as the throwline initiative, which has been rolled out to other riverside pubs and clubs along the Thames.
Since 2002, the RNLI’s Chiswick Lifeboat Station has supported The Boat Race with its E-class lifeboat; working not only to look after The Boat Race crews and those on the water but also the safety of the thousands of spectators on race day.
The Boat Race is on April 7. The Women’s Boat Race will begin at 2.15pm and The Men’s Boat Race at 3.15pm; theboatrace.org
