A lifelong fundraiser who has dedicated a huge part of her life to the RNLI is determined to keep up the good work.

Joan McDowell, 74, of Harrington, said she has seen a lot of changes in her 58 years of fundraising and the Times & Star’s Lifeboat Appeal is her latest challenge.

The former Workington mayor is the longest-serving member of the Workington RNLI Lifeboat fundraisers and started when she met her husband Alan at 16.

Alan went on to become the coxswain of Workington RNLI and had his own yacht when he met Joan.

It was Joan’s concern for Alan’s well-being at sea that inspired her to fundraise.

Seven years after his death, she is still going.

She said: “I felt like I was far too young at the time, but I started to go door-to-door to collect funds and I was doing that until we moved to Sussex in 1972.”

The move down south did not last long, and when the couple returned to look after Alan’s father in 1975, Joan started to step up the fundraising.

She took part in coffee mornings, ran short-term charity shops and collected money in pubs to raise funds.

She said: “Pubs were different back then because people would go out much earlier and they would give very generously.

“There were less than 100 registered charities in the 1960s and now there are thousands trying to get to the same disposable income.”

Despite the challenges over the years, Joan praised West Cumbrians’ generosity.

She said: “I remember when I was stood in Workington town centre once and it was raining and miserable, I could feel the water running down my back, and someone came and put a £20 note in my bucket. I was so happy I could have howled. They didn’t even say why.

“Then you get people who give because the RNLI has helped their family or neighbours too.”

Joan has no plans to stop fundraising and is still on the lookout for new ideas to raise awareness around the work the RNLI does. She said the new Shannon boat will make lifesaving much easier on the bodies of those who are putting themselves on the line and urged West Cumbrians to back the campaign.

The fundraising group has also organised a fashion show for the appeal which will be held on October 10 at Workington Golf Club. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm.

Joan is encouraging people to join the committee and share their ideas. The group usually meets on the first Tuesday of the month in Harrington Sailing and Fishing Club at 7.30pm.