Raising money to protect the seas
A Winchester school pupil is raising money for a charity in memory of her mother.
Eleanor Scougall, 12, campaigned for the RNLI to be one of St Swithun’s charitable causes this year.
organised.
Eleanor’s family started raising funds for the RNLI in 2015, after the death of her mother, Tara Scougall, as a way to commemorate Tara’s life.
Eleanor is hoping to raise enough money to fund the building of a new lifeboat. So far Eleanor has raised £156,000, towards her goal of £214,000, which is the cost of the lifeboat.
The funds will provide a new B class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, which will be stationed in Lough Ree, Ireland and is to be named the Tara Scougall, in honour of Eleanor’s mother. The boat will be built at the RNLI factory in East Cowes, next year and is expected to be in use by the end of 2019.
Eleanor said: ‘The project has been a very positive experience for me. I have learned some good fundraising skills and managed to confront my fears when I spoke in front of 500 people at school and 100 at the charity ball we organised. I have also realised the power of the supportive, kind and energetic community at St Swithun’s.’
St Swithun’s headmistress, Jane Gandee, said: ‘Our lifeboat initiative embodies service, duty and working together to achieve something ambitious; values that are embedded in our ethos at St Swithun’s. We are very proud to support the appeal and Eleanor.’
