Southport Lifeboat is launching a new Lifeboat Lotto, with a cash prize up to £5000 and a special priceless bonus – it could save your life or someone you love.

The lifeboat provides a vital service on a treacherous part of the coast from Southport to Formby but is not supported by the RNLI.

The Lifeboat Lotto will help to raise cash for a desperately needed, new Lifeboat House nearer the sea – to reduce response times in rescues where minutes can be crucial.

Coxswain, Keith Porter said “It costs over £40,000 a year just to keep the Lifeboat on Station. As the residents of Southport will know, we are situated just off Marine Drive in the old Lifeboat house which was built in 1886, and which lacks any basic facilities.

“Having a new Lifeboat House nearer to the sea could make all the difference between life and death during a rescue.
“We need to raise a substantial amount of money to achieve this.

“We get no funding from the RNLI or any other Grant Aid. We really hope the people of Southport will back us by supporting the Lotto and THEIR local lifeboat.

“They will have a chance of winning a great cash prize of up to £5,000 - with the extra bonus that the next life we save could be theirs.”

It’s a Lotto with a difference. Entry is only £2 a week, hardly the price of a pint, and there are no weekly entries to fill in, just pick 4 numbers between 1 and 31 and fill them on the application form. You only need to do this once as your numbers are then registered in the Lifeboat Lotto computer and are entered into each weekly draw for as long as you pay. Paying is easy too, no hands in pockets or purses, payment is made by either cheque for £52 which covers 6 months entries or by monthly or quarterly Standing Order. No cash changes hands -Nothing could be easier.

Match 4 numbers and you will win the roll-over jackpot which starts at £500 and increases by £100 a week until a winner is found. If no one matches the numbers drawn, a winner is guaranteed when the jackpot reaches £5000. Match 3 numbers and win a £20 consolation prize.

The first draw takes place on Wednesday 10th March 2010 and weekly thereafter.

The Lifeboat Lotto team will be out and about, calling on households to ask for your support, they will be easily recognisable with high visibility jackets and full identification.

You can also sign up for the Lifeboat Lotto by collecting an application form from the Southport Lifeboat shop on the corner of Claremont Road and Everton Road in Birkdale or by visiting the Southport Lifeboat website,  following the Lotto link and downloading the application form. Once completed, there is a Freepost address to send the form in.

Southport Lifeboat Chairman, Neil Rothwell said “This new lottery will make a direct and vital contribution to saving lives for the people of Southport and Formby. It is also a fun way for us to give something back to our supporters in the form of cash prizes - tax free of course! It will really help to keep your local Lifeboat afloat”

For further information contact: Steve Hoyle, Lottery Promoter, 07860 635495