The team at our Torbay garden centre has announced the total raised by the branch for the RNLI in the run up to Christmas. The announcement was celebrated with a visit from ‘Stormy Sam’.

Over £1,200 was raised in just three months for the charity that is reliant on voluntary donations to power its lifesaving work at sea, through the charity boxes at the tills and donations made to two popular animated displays which entertained customers over the Christmas period – 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.

Julia Stone, Charity Champion at Otter Garden Centre Torbay 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 team has decided to continue supporting the RNLI in 2020, and with such a great response in just three months the branch is really looking to push the boat out for the RNLI over a whole year. They will be organising various fundraising events which will include a photo competition and, back by popular demand, a fundraising head shave!

Lynn Spillett Chair of Torbay Lifeboat Fundraisers 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,” she explained.

Every year, volunteer RNLI 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.

Check back on our Torbay web page for details of upcoming fundraising events.