Newquay RNLI volunteers welcomed Alex Ellis-Roswell to the town’s lifeboat station on last Tuesday as the 21-year-old from Kent continues his two-year, 6,500-mile walk around the British coast in aid of the charity that saves lives at sea.

RNLI fundraiser Alex began his trek at Minnis Bay near Margate in Kent in early-August and has already covered more than 1,000 miles, visiting every RNLI lifeboat station on the south coast. He rounded Land’s End last month and is now making his way up the north Cornish coast with more than 5,000-miles ahead of him, before he eventually returns to Kent in the summer of 2016, by which time Alex hopes to have raised £10,000 for the RNLI.

Alex sold his advertising business to fund the epic trip after sadly losing his father just over a year-ago and hopes to raise the £10,000 for the charity after being inspired by the work of the RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers during his early childhood living on the Kent coast.

After a rough night camping on the coast path, Alex was first welcomed to Newquay by one of the town’s RNLI volunteers who bought him a full Cornish breakfast, and after recovering in front of the fire Alex continued through town to the lifeboat station at Newquay Harbour, where he received a warm welcome from lifeboat volunteers and supporters. Alex spent a night in Newquay, courtesy of the Carnmarth Hotel who kindly offered him a complimentary room and breakfast, before continuing up the coast towards the next RNLI lifeboat station at Padstow.

Alex said: ‘I am inspired by the selflessness of the lifeboat volunteers, who are prepared to drop everything at a moment’s notice and respond 24-hours-a-day to save lives at sea. Meeting so many dedicated RNLI volunteers has been a constant source of motivation for me so-far on this trip and I was blown-away by the welcome and support I received in Newquay from the RNLI, Carnmarth Hotel, other businesses and locals on social-media’. 

Supporters can follow Alex’s progress around the coast on Facebook and Twitter (@ellisroswell) and donations to the RNLI can be made at:https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/longwalkround