People in Cornwall are being encouraged to help raise funds for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution as part of the charity’s national annual fundraising event, Mayday.

The RNLI’s Mayday campaign launches today (Tuesday, April 26) and runs through to the May Day bank holiday on Monday, May 2, with street collections and fundraising events taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Pat Smith, nicknamed Action Nan, has spent the last 21 days pounding the Cornish coast path raising money for the RNLI.

Pat set off from Marsland near Bude on April 6 and has been visiting RNLI lifeboat stations and lifeguarded beaches along the 297-mile route. Pat chose to support the RNLI as it is a cause close to her heart.

Today she met volunteers from Looe RNLI on the penultimate day of her walking challenge.

She says: ‘I’ve had the most amazing experience over the last three weeks and have loved it. People have shown an incredible amount of kindness and support and it has been a real test of my inner ability to stay focused. I have been given permission to experience and love the place I live in and have seen the most incredible sights, all on my doorstep.’

Pat is due to finish her walk tomorrow (April 27) as she walks from Portwrinkle to Cremyll, arriving between 4pm and 5pm.

Many of the Mayday fundraising events taking place this week will have a yellow welly theme, in a nod to the essential kit that the RNLI’s lifeboat crew members wear on their feet when they go out to sea to save lives.

The RNLI is encouraging people to show their support by using the hashtag #MaydayEveryday on social media, buying and wearing a Mayday yellow welly pin badge, hosting or supporting a fundraising event or donating online.

Visit RNLI.org/Mayday to donate, to order a pin badge or to see what other ways you can support the RNLI’s Mayday campaign.