A keen cyclist from Sandbach is starting a two-day ride from London to Paris today (Friday) to raise money for a lifeboat station after he was rescued in sailing accident.

Dave Hursthouse, Assistive Technology Project Manager at Leonard Cheshire's Hill House in Sandbach, is cycling just over 200 miles to raise funds for RNLI Porthdinllaen Lifeboat.

He is doing it as fifteen years ago he got to unexpectedly sample the services of the RNLI first hand following a sailing accident.

Dave (above), who lives in Sandbach, was rescued by nearby Abersoch RNLI, which like the rest of RNLI is funded by charitable donations.

He starts the journey from London today (Friday) and hopes to get to Paris by Sunday (August 14th). 

He said: "The crew are friends with huge hearts and are an integral part of the Llyn peninsula community in North Wales.

"They are predominantly volunteers and frequently put their own lives on hold to take part in training, fundraising activities and emergency call-outs.

"They head out to sea in conditions others are heading back to shore or safe port. They are a vital emergency service," Dave says on the JustGiving fundraising page he has set up.

He added: "Back in 2007, I got to unexpectedly sample the RNLI's services first hand following a sailing accident, being rescued by the nearby Abersoch RNLI.

"The volunteers were professional, compassionate and on the scene within minutes, getting me to an awaiting ambulance for treatment in nearby Ysbyty Gwynedd (Bangor Hospital) and even going back to recover my boat for which I'll be forever grateful!"

Now Dave is calling on as many people as possible to support his fundraising bike ride.

Donations can be made via the fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/daves-rnli-london2paris?fbclid=IwAR0baFh-96YbDMolApmiCBll9t224TR9pttbsW8bR8GnCL9rQP_kk3aaH_8

"A donation, no matter how small, would be hugely appreciated," says Dave."Diolch yn fawr / thank you."