Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post
It's not cheap running a mountain rescue team - just look at any of their annual reports - and they never charge a penny for the work they do. When you look at the great races in the Peak District (Edale Skyline, Downfall, Kinder Trog etc) and see the cover that gets provided by the local rescue teams (cave rescue too if you count Great Hucklow as a great race) you begin to realise what a fantastic service we get from these guys. We should all try to support races like Cracken Edge and the Trigger which specifically aim to raise funds for these teams - otherwise contributions, donations and "tin rattling" are their only source of income.

And when things go pear shaped on an event like Tanky's, and the moors need searching or somebody needs carrying down, it will still be teams like Woodhead who will do this (for absolutely nothing, and with a smile) even if they have "withdrawn their support", as has been suggested here. Because, for these teams, there is a level of support which will always be there.

Indeed Alan. And lest we forget:

2nd October Body Recovery 09:45 Hrs Saddle Fell, Bowland. Late on Saturday 1st October the body of a fell walker was discovered in a peat bog on Saddle Fell. Team was paged the following day by Lancashire Police to see if we could assist with the recovery operation. Team Leader met with senior officers from the Police and the Fire & Rescue Service at Saddle End Farm. The police helicopter was then used to transport the Team Leader and a senior fire officer to the scene and determine a plan for the recovery. It was decide that Mountain Rescue would handle the recovery and the Team was deployed to the hill in our 4 x 4 Landrovers with other police officers arriving by helicopter. Once the body had been removed from the peat bog the Team paused for a few moments thought & respect for a fellow hill walker. The body was then loaded on to the Police Helicopter to be flown off the hill. The Teams thoughts and sympathies are expressed to the gentleman’s family and friends at this sad time. (70 Rescue Person Hours)