Funds blooming for RNLI

A Torbay garden centre celebrated the amount raised for the RNLI in the run up to Christmas 2019 with a visit from Stormy Sam.

In just three months, staff and customers at Otter Garden Centre in Moles Lane raised over £1,200 for the charity that that is reliant on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work at sea.

The total came from charity boxes at the tills and donations made to two animated displays over the Christmas period comprising musical polar bears and a group of singing reindeer. In addition, offcuts from Christmas trees were made available to customers to use as table decorations in exchange for a donation.

The branch’s Charity Champion, Julia Stone said: “We only started the fundraising in October so we are delighted to hand over such a sizeable chunk of money to the Torbay branch of the RNLI.

“As always, thanks are due to all our customers who never fail to amaze us with their generosity.”

The Otter team have decided to continue supporting the RNLI for the coming year, too. Plans so far include a photo competition and, back by popular demand, a fundraising head shave.

“With such a great response in just three months, we are really looking to push the boat out over a whole year,” added Julia.

Chair of Torbay Lifeboat Fundraisers, Lynn Spillett said that donations from local businesses such as Otter Garden Centre Torbay are vital in assisting the overall RNLI/Torbay Lifeboat fundraising in the Bay. “We very much appreciate and welcome their support. All Otter Garden Centre donations go towards Saving Lives at Sea.”

Every year, volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards help and rescue thousands of people; they have saved well over 142,700 lives since the organisation was founded in 1824. The Torbay Lifeboat branch is based in Brixham, where the volunteer crews are frequently called out to all areas of Torbay, Lyme Bay and beyond when needed, helping to save lives at sea.