Lifeboat Fan, 8, On Quest To Visit Heroes Across UK

An eight-year-old fundraiser is more than halfway through a challenge to visit every single RNLI lifeboat station in the UK.

Harry Mascall (pictured) started his quest nearly a year ago and is hoping to raise £5,000 for the charity.

Harry, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, has travelled hundreds of miles across the UK to meet his heroes, who he plans to join as soon as he’s old enough to volunteer.

His first visit was in Cornwall last year and since then he’s visited just over half the RNLI stations in the UK, including ones in Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands.

On Sunday he met the team in Gravesend, Kent, on his 123rd visit out of 230 stations.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland, as well as a seasonal lifeguard service.

Funded by charitable donations, its crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives at sea since 1824.

(Pictures: SWNS)

Last summer, Harry received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding UK volunteers, in recognition of his challenge.

Alan Carr from the RNLI said: “Harry just loves the RNLI and is doing this to raise funds and awareness.

"He’s quite an inspiration and it’s nice to see someone so young who is very enthusiastic about the RNLI.”