A man who was rescued after drifting for hours in Mount's Bay is to hold a fundraiser for the RNLI at Penzance.

Joe Holtaway, who was rescued last year by the Penlee RNLI lifeboat crew after six hours drifting in the darkness on a paddle board, has arranged the event to say thank you to the volunteers who saved his life.

Musician Joe was found a mile south of Marazion after an extensive three hour search by the lifeboat crew, frozen rigid with the cold despite wearing a wetsuit. Joe and his family are hosting a 'Big Thank You' band night at The Mill, Bar and Restaurant in Penzance as part of the RNLI's Mayday campaign, which launches this Wednesday.

The event, on Saturday May 9, from 7pm, will include Joe's group The Seakings together with a number of local bands and musicians, and will include a short film event.

The RNLI is issuing its own call for help, appealing for volunteers and fundraisers to get involved with ‘Mayday’, the charity’s forthcoming national fundraising event which will take place from 1–4 May this year.

Joe says: "The days after my rescue were very quiet and reflective, responding to messages and drinking a lot of tea by the fire with my family. I am deeply touched and as deeply grateful to everyone involved in saving my life in anyway, I truly believe the skill and dedication to saving life in the emergency services is a wonder and I feel truly moved remembering the gentleness and strength of the RNLI lifeboat crew as they kept me talking on the journey back to Newlyn.

"My family and I wanted to show our grateful and heartfelt thanks the RNLI and everyone involved and thought a big night of music and entertainment would be a perfect way to get everyone together to celebrate the charity’s Mayday event."

This is the first time the charity’s Mayday campaign has been run nationally in the UK, following its success in Ireland. It starts on Friday May 1 and runs across the four-day May Day bank holiday weekend, with street collections and fundraising events taking place in and around the south west.

The charity which saves lives at sea is calling on people to show their support – either by volunteering to help with collections and events, or by taking part in a fundraising activity, in aid of the RNLI.

Guy Botterill, RNLI community fundraising manager, said: "The RNLI’s dedicated volunteer lifeboat crews are always ready to respond to the Mayday calls of those in distress at sea. We’re now hoping people will respond to our call, by volunteering a bit of their time to help with some of the collections and events we have planned for the four days spanning the May Day bank holiday weekend, or by taking part in a fundraising activity.

"RNLI lifeboat crews are volunteers, who are willing to give up their time and put their own lives at risk to rescue those in danger around our coastline. We hope people will get behind us and show their support. We have some fun events like Joe’s planned, so hopefully people will enjoy themselves while also doing their bit to support this lifesaving charity."

All money raised through Mayday fundraising events will support the RNLI’s lifesaving work – it could be used to fund crew training, buy new crew kit, or contribute towards the running costs of a lifeboat station. Tickets to Joe’s Big Thank You are £10 and are available via www.thebigthankyou.eventbrite.co.uk, at The Mill or the RNLI shop in Penzance.

Other events around the south west include: quiz nights, lifeboat pull, Inland Lifeboat Day, RNLI film night, auctions, cream teas and RNLI fun days. Anyone interested in getting involved can see what is going on in their area and sign up at www.rnli.org/Mayday