ENDURANCE RUNNER VINI Cardoso returned to Howth Lifeboat Station on Saturday after a six-week challenge that saw him running the perimeter of the island, visiting every RNLI lifeboat station in the country. 

Volunteer lifeboat crew member with Howth RNLI, Ronan Murphy, first encouraged Cardoso to take on the challenge.

Murphy said he “never imagined” that the runner would take on the challenge with “such determination”, and added that it’s been “amazing” to follow his journey and watch the support he received at lifeboat stations around Ireland. 

Howth RNLI volunteers celebrate with Vini Cardoso on his return to Howth on Saturday 13 September. RNLI / Tom Ryan RNLI / Tom Ryan / Tom Ryan

Cardoso set off from Howth on 2 August. Covering thousands of kilometres, he visited the country’s 46 RNLI lifeboat stations to raise funds to support the charity.

The RNLI is independent of the coastguard and government and relies on voluntary donations and fundraising, as well as the work of its volunteers.

It claims to have saved 142,700 lives in the UK and Ireland since its founding in 1842. 

Cardoso arrived back to Howth at noon on Saturday, where he was greeted by friends, supporters, and the volunteer crew at the lifeboat station.

Endurance runner Vini Cardoso with the volunteer crew of Howth RNLI after he returned to Howth having completed his 6 week coastal running challenge. RNLI / Tom Ryan RNLI / Tom Ryan / Tom Ryan

“This has been the toughest but most rewarding challenge I’ve ever faced,” he said, speaking at the finish line.

“From wind and rain to long, lonely stretches of road, there were days when I doubted if I could keep going – but I remembered the crews of the RNLI who head out in all conditions, day and night, to save lives.

“That kept me moving forward. I’m proud to have run every step for them and to support the lifesaving work they do right around our coast.”

Chairperson of the Howth RNLI Fundraising Branch, Rose Michael, thanked Cardoso for his undertaking, calling it “remarkable”. 

She said that every euro raised by his efforts will go directly towards funding the training, equipement, and lifeboats the RNLI’s volunteer crews depend on to save lives at sea.

“To run around Ireland visiting every RNLI lifeboat station along the coast is no small feat, and to do it in support of the charity makes it all the more special,” she said.