Wirral group's 'Rustman Challenge' raises funds for RNLI

Their 'Rustman Challenge' on Sunday, August 4, featured multiple challenging swims, runs and cycles and took place in locations including the Dee Estuary, the Great Orme, the Menai Straits and Holyhead mountain.

It was all in the name of 'friendship and trust' and to celebrate the RNLI's 200th anniversary.

The team of 32 from Wirral that took part in sport-packed Rustman Challenge in aid of the RNLI on Sunday, August 4 (Image: Al Stirling - alstirling.com) Rustman is unofficial event, organised between friends in the local community and each person taking part understands the personal responsibility for the risks associated with every aspect of the journey - whilst all sticking together, supporting and encouraging each other along the way.

Part of the Rustman Challenge in aid of the RNLI underway on Sunday, August 4 (Image: Al Stirling / alstirling.com) Part of the Rustman Challenge in aid of the RNLI underway on Sunday, August 4 (Image: Al Stirling / alstirling.com) Participants were supported on the day by people within their local community with 10 volunteers taking care of transport, logistics, bike maintenance and documentation of the event.

This year's route passed seven RNLI stations and while several team members have close family links to the service, they all have the greatest respect and gratitude for their tireless commitment to saving lives at sea.

After completing part of the Rustman Challenge in aid of the RNLI on Sunday, August 4 (Image: Al Stirling / alstirling.com) This is why the group decided that their fundraising efforts should go towards supporting the continuation of the RNLI’s vital work.

Rustman is the brainchild of Chris Shaw and Richard Webster.

Both share a lifelong love of outdoor endurance sport and a passion for the promotion of mental health and community through exercise, and both were selected as Olympic torch bearers in 2012 in recognition of their contributions.

(Top) The Wirral team finish swim event as part of Rustman Challenge and visit Llandudno Lifeboat Station during the event in aid of the RNLI on Sunday, August 4 (Images: Al Stirling / alstirling.com) Chris and Rich harboured an ambition, similar to an Ironman, but community spirited, non-corporate, non-profit and completed as a group. Each participant chooses to accept the significant risks associated. Thus the Rustman was born.

Named to represent the creaky knees and aching limbs of athletes of a certain age, The Rustman event has changed and adapted over the years with iterations in Scotland and Snowdonia, this year’s event returned to the original route to cover the group's much cherished local coastline.

Liam Hanlon, co-organiser, said: "The Seventh Rustman was an event of swim, cycle and run in our own community and our own coastline, covering similar to Ironman distances, done with the freedom and friendship of this amazing community and breaking a few rules along the way and as promised, was another great adventure."

Chris Shaw, co-organiser said: "Originally the Rustman idea was about getting mates to do an endeavour together that wasn't about personal bests and competing.

"We all come from a big kind of family community of sea swimmers and tucked into the group, including my daughter, are lots of folk who work with the RNLI and really because of the nature of what we do, it seemed like the logical, obvious charity to raise funds for, supporting the folk who look after us every time we take to the seas.

"During Rutsman VII we stopped at several of the RNLI stations along the way to remember that as well as it being a great day out for everyone, it's also an opportunity to to get significant funding for the agency who mean so much to our coastal communities."

To support the team's fundraising efforts, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rustman7-1718188432908