Support Assynt Mountain Rescue Team

27th November 2010

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team needs to raise some money to update and replace equipment which is used in rescues in the Caithness and Sutherland area.

You may have seen the news story on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-11773602

On December 20th while you are planning your last minute Christmas shopping and contemplating what Santa might bring, spare a thought for members of Assynt Mountain Rescue team.

For while you turn the heating up a notch or two and try to resist just one more mince pie they will be battling the elements to attempt to run and mountain bike all 96 miles of the West Highland Way in less than 24hrs.

Just to add to the challenge the mountain rescuers are attempting this challenge close to the shortest day of the year. This means that the team will be running and mountain biking through remote wild countryside mainly in the dark !

The team are trying to raise vital funds to up date and replace essential equipment . We have set ourselves the ambitious target of raising £5000.

To run and mountain bike almost 100 miles on rough terrain, in December largely in the dark you have to be a little mad. We are looking forward to the challenge and hope that with support from the public we will be able to reach our target of raising £5000

The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team covers one of the largest and most remote areas in the whole country with well over 9000 square Kilometers to keep watch over.

Past rescues have varied from evacuating seriously injured climbers, cavers and walkers in the Assynt area, to searching for missing downed aircraft in Northern Scotland, to assisting in the search for missing persons, including children and elderly or confused patients on the East coast around Thurso and Wick.

The shear size of our area, the scope of our responsibility and the relatively low population present us with particular challenges.

Not everyone realises that although we work under the auspices of the police we have to fund the majority of what we do ourselves. This includes everything from the upkeep of our rescue base and vehicles to purchasing equipment and providing first aid training.

The Assynt Mountain Rescue team consists of around 30 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds drawn from all over Caithness and Sutherland. The team are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So far, during 2010 the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team have responded to 17 call outs and provided in excess of 1000 hours of unpaid voluntary rescue service support to the communities of Caithness and Sutherland.

The current madcap adventure will see the team attempt to boost their coffers to replace and update some of the technical equipment they use for performing life saving rescues.

The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team members currently planning to undertake this team challenge are Charlie MacLeod, Kirstin Caramouche, Dennis Gallagher, Tom Ross, Alan Sutherland, Doug Graham and Bob Kerr. These participants will be supported by other team members.

Anyone who wants to help support the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team with this Christmas time challenge can do so by making a donation on our JustGiving webpage here:
http://www.justgiving.com/assynt-mountain-rescue/