The Association des Sauveteurs en Mer launches its winter campaign to call for donations, the end of the year being propitious to generosity and solidarity. The SNSM needs these gifts.
If rescuers are volunteers, there is a cost for the fleet, equipment and training.
To carry out their mission, the lifeguards arm nearly 400 ships, the equipment of each lifeguard on board costs 1,500 euros... and the volunteers, who come less and less from the maritime professions, must follow an adapted training course.
Funding through donations
No, the SNSM is not funded by the state! (or very little). Today, the Sea Rescue Association has an annual operating budget of less than 30 million euros, 80% of which is financed by private funds. It also has to replace its fleet of all-weather canoes - some of which are more than 30 years old - in the next ten years, and this type of ocean-going boat costs more than a million euros.
This campaign is therefore essential for the SNSM, which today has just over 90,000 donors, a figure that is increasing, but remains very low when compared to the number of water sports enthusiasts, which is in the millions!
A national campaign
An awareness and collection campaign designed by the Hopening communication agency illustrates the unfailing commitment of the SNSM's volunteer lifeguards. It will be broadcast on the dedicated website jesoutiens.snsm.org on television, in the press and on the web.
2017, a special year
This year the SNSM celebrates its 50th anniversary and has been awarded the label of "Grande Cause Nationale 2017". Let's hope that this will motivate new donors. It is important to remember that each individual donor can tax-exempt up to 66% of the amount of their donation within the limit of 20% of their taxable income. A donation of 30 euros is therefore equivalent to the average cost of a cinema ticket?
