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Royals give wedding gift to Coast Guard Auxiliary

The current darlings of royal watchers have named Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliaries as the only Canadian charity among many that they chose to receive charitable donations from well-wishers in lieu of wedding gifts.

"They are charities that have a particular resonance with Prince William and Miss Middleton and reflect issues in which the couple have been particularly interested in their lives to date," said a statement from Clarence House, the official London residence of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and Princes William and Harry.

"It’s a huge honour to be chosen by Prince William and Miss Middleton as part of a list of distinguished charitable groups around the world," said Randy Strandt, President Pacific Region, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. "We’re certainly proud of the good work that our nearly 5,000 volunteers put in to ensure marine safety and it’s our pleasure now to be in a position to share our story with millions of people who can support our efforts on behalf of the Royal Couple."

The long tradition of vessels responding to distress situations is part of the fabric and, in many cases, the law for most maritime nations. In Canada, the participation of volunteers in marine rescue pre-dates Confederation. The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary was formed in 1978-79 to enhance search and rescue coverage and capability, and to better coordinate volunteer efforts.

The organization has been saving lives ever since. For more information, visit www.ccga-gcac.org