All decked out: Vicky Ashburn on board with Bob Vezier and Jonathan Cornick(00772984)

THEY take to the sea to save lives, but now landlubbers can put their best foot forward to support a fund-raising effort for the charity that runs the Island’s lifeboats.

Vicky Ashburn has organised a 42-mile round-the-Island walk and also a ten-mile family walk, both to be held on Saturday 3 October in aid of the RNLI.

Mrs Ashburn arranged a fund-raising walk in aid of Durrell last year and has now decided to choose the RNLI because she has so many friends and family who are frequent users of the sea.

She said that the 42-mile walk was designed to appeal to those looking for a challenge, whereas the ten-mile walk was more likely to appeal to family groups.

The longer trek will start at 2 am at St Aubin’s Harbour and will finish at the end of the Railway Walk many hours later. All those who enter must be over 16 years old. The ten-mile walk will start at 1 pm at Grosnez car park and will also finish at the end of the Railway Walk.

The entrants in the shorter event will join up with the round-Island walkers and complete the final stages with them. Any children under 12 years old taking part in the ten-mile walk must be accompanied by an adult. All participants will be expected to walk, not run, the course.

There will also be a raffle for all entrants and their families. The raffle draw will be held during the presentation and tickets can be bought in advance.

Raffle prizes include a trip round-the-Island for up to three people on a powerboat and a family trip to the lifeboat station with a chance to visit the new lifeboat with members of the RNLI crew.

Mrs Ashburn is a dental nurse who married husband Mark in February. They live in St Helier. She said that it was good to know that there were so many dedicated volunteers willing to give up their spare time to risk their lives for the lives of others in peril at sea.

Anyone who wants to take part in either walk or to sponsor a participant should e-mail vcjenkins@hotmail.com or phone Mrs Ashburn on 07797 842221.

All decked out: Vicky Ashburn on board with Bob Vezier and Jonathan Cornick(00772984)