Give the rescuers a helping hand

GO NICHE:WE SO OFTEN hear of mountain rescue teams being called into action when walkers come a cropper that it's easy to think of them as the professionals they are. Only they're not.

Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue, for example, is “staffed” entirely by volunteers who not only risk their lives to save lives, but have to fit it in around their day jobs. They don’t receive a cent for their time.

The voluntary team has been involved in about 1,200 call-outs since it was set up 25 years ago, averaging one a week for everything from sprained ankles to fatal plane crashes.

They don’t even have a proper base from which to do it.

Which is why there was great excitement earlier this year when planning permission was granted for just such a building, outside Laragh.

The facility will serve as a communications and operations centre during incidents and provide training and storage space for kit. All the team need now is the wherewithal to pay for it.

To this end Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue’s inaugural Moon Light Challenge takes place on November 20th.

The 26km sponsored walk runs from Crone Forest to Laragh and, as the name suggests, takes place at night under a full moon.

The rescue team is looking for teams of four to participate. Registration takes place at 4pm in Laragh and from there you will be transported by coach to Crone Forest car park, to begin your walk back.

Participants are expected to finish around midnight, depending on fitness levels.

There is a registration fee of €25 per person, with a minimum fundraising target of €75 per person.

• wicklowmountainrescue.ie