Why the Benevolent Fund?
The Fire Service Benevolent Fund is a registered charity started during the second world war to help the widows and orphans of injured Fire-fighters. Although still fulfilling this function, the fund has now developed to also provide specialist convalescent care and rehabilitation to fire fighters and their dependants following accident or illness, sheltered accommodation to the infirm and is able to assist with financial help following illness, misfortune or hardship.

Why Keech Cottage
Keech Cottage is a children's hospice that has been built by the Pasque Hospice Charity to care for and support families with a dying child or young person under eighteen years of age in Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire. It opened on 17th March 2000.
Firefighters from Luton have previously done charity work on behalf of Keech Cottage. We think this is a excellent charity.

The Boat
Is an Osprey Eagle 5.6 meter RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) powered by an 85 Hp Suzuki outboard engine with an 8 hp auxiliary. It has been modified with extra storage space and additional long range fuel tanks that enable it to carry up to 210 litres of fuel - essential to give us the necessary range and safety margin for the longer offshore legs. Other equipment includes Compass, Chart plotter, VHF marine radio, echo sounder / fish finder, GPS (Global Positioning System), full navigation lights, Offshore flares, life raft and EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Rescue Beacon).

How can I get involved? Sponsor us! We still need pilot books, charts and other equipment .We are doing all we can to keep costs to a minimum and aim to raise as much money as possible, no donation or offer too large or small. Two competitions will also be running back to back right up until we start where entrants can attempt to guess either the total mileage or engine hours run. Each entry will cost £2 with nearest winners and a friend to have a free day out on the sea in the event boat to a destination of their choice. For £5, you can also have your name carried on the boat for the whole trip and immortalised through newspapers and publicity photos along the way. Contact us for details.

Fuel and a total marine lubrication package will be provided by Gulf, who are back in the UK, with a lubricants and a forecourts division.

Laptop from Tempus Software Solutions

All signs and stickers by Signcraft of Bedford 01234 356462

4 x 275 N lifejackets and full Offshore flare pack donated by Crewsaver.

Other offers of assistance have come from Polymarine Ltd www.polymarine.co.uk and RYB Marine www.ryb.co.uk.

Bedfordshire & Luton Fire & Rescue Service for helping in too many ways to mention.

Full re tubing of boat done at cost by Eurotech

Beds Battery have supplied enough marine two stroke oil to cover the whole the event

EPIRB kindly supplied by SARTECH

Mark 10 inflatable inner style helmets, and boat communications supplied by Gecko

Kelvin Hughes have offered to supply complete coverage of charts and a couple of pilot books from ex hire stock for the event.

182C Colour GPS / Chart plotter and complete coverage of blue map charts and tidal data provided by Garmin

Highly Efficient Stainless Steel Prop kindly loaned by Steel Developments

Polar Bears have provided dry suits

We are indebted to them all for these very generous offers and following recent sea trials can think of no better team for the journey ahead.