Members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue would fly to the moon to raise enough money for a new rescue boat in the South West. Well, to 10,000ft anyway, where they will swallow hard and leap out of a plane for a mass fundraising parachute jump on 29 May.

"We're trying to raise £20,000 to supply the South West with a 7m Tornado RIB [as pictured], with engine and appropriate equipment," Tony Woodley, a BDMLR director, told Divernet. "Each skydiver has already found the £180 skydive fee and we're now trying to raise as much as possible on top of that."

The South West suffers a "high number" of marine life strandings, and a capable RIB would allow rescue teams to reach places which are currently off limits. It would also serve as a standby boat when refloating whales using BDMLR's specialised pontoons.

The plucky parachutists are Tony, who is also BDMLR Newsletter Editor and East Devon Co-ordinator; Lissa Goodwin, Plymouth Co-ordinator; Faye Archell, Essex Co-ordinator; and medics Marilyn den Hollander, Natalie Hartley and Samantha Glanfield.

To contribute to the cause, email Tony Woodley at tony@bdmlr.org.uk or call BDMLR on 01825 765546.

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British Divers Marine Life Rescue

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