A Southend man has helped raise more than £40,000 for the RNLI as part of a fundraiser poking fun at those who criticised the charity for rescuing migrants.
Simon Harris launched the tongue-in-cheek Go Fund Me page with a £100,000 target to buy the RNLI a hovercraft and name it 'The Flying Farage'.
To date it has raised more than £44,000.
It was set up amid the RNLI saying it faced criticism for rescuing migrants in the Channel in the last five years, but particularly in recent weeks.
The fundraiser takes a swipe at Nigel Farage who described the charity as a 'migrant taxi service' after rescuing people crossing the Channel.
Mr Harris’ page said: “I am trying to raise enough money to buy a new lifesaving hovercraft for the RNLI, and I would like it to be called ‘The Flying Farage’.
“I feel that this would be incredibly appropriate due to Mr Farage taking such an active interest in the RNLI’s activities right now.
“If there is any money left over we will purchase a pint of real English ale to smash against the front in the naming ceremony, and if there is loads of money left over we may even buy a second vessel and call it ‘The Galloping Grimes’ or ‘The Hovering Hopkins’.
“Please give generously.”
Mr Harris’ post makes it clear the page is a fundraiser and all funds will go to the RNLI.
He added: “The final decision about whether or not to proceed with ‘The Flying Farage’ is entirely at their discretion.”
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The total includes donations made after two Facebook fundraisers by Mr Harris.
Donations to the RNLI have rocketed after the charity’s chief executive last week described its role in rescuing people crossing the English Channel as “humanitarian work”.
Jayne George, RNLI fundraising director, said: “We are overwhelmed with the huge level of support we have received from our amazing supporters in the last couple of days.
“We have seen an uplift in donations, with over £200,000 being donated yesterday alone through a combination of one-off donations, new regular support and supporters increasing their regular donation amount.
“This is simply incredible.”
The RNLI said it faced criticism for rescuing migrants in the Channel in the last five years, but particularly in recent weeks, with a London-based crew having to call the police after receiving abuse at the weekend.
It prompted Mr Dowie to give a series of interviews in which he said the sea charity was “doing the right thing” by going to people’s aid, regardless of their reason for being in the water.
Responding to the spike in donations since Mr Dowie’s intervention, Ms George said: “This was never a fundraising campaign – we simply wanted to tell the story of our crews and make it clear that our charity exists to save lives at sea.
“Our mission is to save every one.
“Our supporters’ kindness means so much to us, without them we could not save lives at sea, every one is a lifesaver.”
To donate to the fundraiser visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/buy-a-new-rnli-hovercraft-called-the-flying-farage
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