RNLI fundraiser walks coastal path twice

Anjie Rook took around 455,000 steps during the challenge

A fundraiser for the RNLI has completed a challenge to walk the Isle of Man's coastline twice to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the lifesaving organisation.

Anjie Rook, who is an associate director of the charity, said she was "on a high" after finishing the 100-mile (160km) Raad ny Foillan coastal pathway for a second time.

She said she was "truly proud" to raise more than £2,900 as a result of the 13-day challenge as well as raising and awareness of the "incredible" organisation.

The RNLI was founded by Sir William Hillary after he witnessed several shipwrecks off the Manx coast while living in Douglas and has since saved more than 146,000 lives.

Anjie Rook walked around the coast of the Isle of Man twice over a 13-day period

The challenge saw Ms Rook, who was visiting the island from North Shields, follow the coastal path past the Point of Ayre lighthouse in the north of the island and the Sound in the south, before she retraced her steps to reach her target of 200 miles (320km).

Ms Rook said had enjoyed "beautiful scenery" and had "met incredible communities and some wonderfully supportive people" along the way.

She said being stopped by one couple who donated £2 to "say thank you for everything the RNLI does" would "stay with me for a really long time".

The journey saw her "catching up with the volunteers" at the island lifeboat stations, including the Douglas crew which "saw me off and saw me back home when I took my last step", she said.

The challenge started and finished at the lifeboat station in Douglas

The fundraiser said the RNLI needed donations to "continue to save lives into its third century of lifesaving and keep us and our loved ones safe".

"Too many people are still drowning, more than ever we need the help of the RNLI," she said.

"I'm truly proud I’ve been able take on this challenge in this 200th year, on this very special island, the home of Sir William Hillary."