Buxton Mountain Rescue Team has just received an early Christmas present from The Big Lottery Fund.

The rescue team, which like all civilian mountain rescue teams is entirely dependent on charitable gifts, has just been successful in its bid for a £10,000 grant from the National Lottery. The donation is a welcome contribution to the team’s year-long appeal to raise £50,000 for the replacement of a specialist vehicle.

Peter Farrer, Fundraising Officer for the rescue charity said, “This is marvellous news at a time when income to the appeal was slowing down. The team is really grateful for the grant which means the new Incident Control Vehicle should be on the road in Spring. The people of Buxton have been magnificent in their support for the team’s appeal throughout the year but it was feared that the launch of the vehicle may have to be delayed whilst waiting for more cash. Now the appeal is back on target. The grant means that orders for the technical equipment to be carried on board can now be placed with suppliers. We just need a final funding push for the vehicle to be available for call-outs from April onwards.”

The new vehicle will replace the current Mobile Control Room which is now eleven years old and which has attended in excess of four-hundred call-outs. The new Control will have dual roles. Acting as an ambulance the vehicle will be able to carry a patient and with 4 x 4 capability will be able to assist the ambulance services in times of bad weather. As an Incident Control it will have the latest communications equipment, computerised mapping and search management software. In either role the vehicle will be a great bonus to the team which attends around eighty incidents each year.

All mountain rescue teams are staffed by volunteers who give their time and energy freely. Support from the Big Lottery Fund is a real boost to the morale of the members as well as being a great bonus to the cash appeal.

The team urges anyone who would like to contribute to the £50,000 Appeal Fund and finally complete the project to hit the big red DONATE button opposite.  Alternatively by post to; BMRT HQ, 8A, Hallsteads, Dove Holes, Buxton, SK17 8BJ.