This weekend Moffat Mountain Rescue Team holds its annual Charity Challenge event on Sunday 12 June.
This year the team will be based at the hall at Durisdeermill with walks across the Durisdeer Hills.
There are 4 walks of varying difficulty to meet the needs of all comers, starting with walk 1 covering 3 km and suitable for all the family up to walk 4 for experienced walkers covering 12km over the hill tops. The team welcomes people on the day but encourages entrants to preregister by posting forms or by an online entry system run by SI Entries if possible so the team can get an idea of the number of people arriving.
The day is usually popular with up to 100 walkers covering the different walks. Members of the team will be stationed across the hill with a big smile whatever the weather. The walks are marked by the team the day before to help everyone enjoy the day. The team asks for an entry fee and a level of sponsorship to be raised for the team, additional sponsorship can go to the team or another charity of the walkers choice. The event is an important fundraiser for Moffat Mountain Rescue team normally raising around £2000.
This year is especially important as the team is fundraising for a new control vehicle to replace our existing older vehicle. More information can be found on the team’s website. www.moffatmrt.org.uk .
Moffat Mountain Rescue team was formed in 1969 and is available 7 days a week 24 hours a day to assist persons in distress or lost in rural areas, whether in lowland or mountainous terrain. The team covers the Eastern side of Dumfries and Galloway and South Lanarkshire and on occasions helps further afield in support of other mountain rescue teams. The team is completely made of up volunteers with who are available day and night to respond to calls as the need arises. Apart from some money provided by the Scottish Government and some equipment provided by the St John Scotland, the team is completely reliant on the generosity of the general public to fund the team. It costs around £30,000 per annum to keep the team operational. This money pays to upkeep the team’s base at Moffat, ensure three vehicles are on the road and pay for lifesaving first aid, communication and technical equipment. More information can be obtained via the team’s website www.moffatmrt,org.uk
