South Wiltshire charity launches unique rescue-based challenge event
Serve On deploy in response to humanitarian disasters
A Wiltshire-based humanitarian response charity is hosting the first ever Rescue Racing event to support it's aid efforts.
On 21st September, Serve On's Chilmark HQ will host the event, which will see participants take on a 1.5-mile obstacle course, inspired by the charity's real-world rescue missions.
Each participant will be sponsored, with those funds going to the charity.
It's being put on by challenge-based learning company, Dark Swan, with competitors set to face pitch-black mazes, rivers crossings, rope swings and casualty extractions.
The course is designed to enhance teamwork, problem-solving skills and physical endurance.
Operations Director at Serve On, Dan Cooke told us a bit more about the the challenges in store for competitors today: "Because we want to make it quite accessible, the obstacles are not flying through the air off the ground, you know, leaping off things.
"So it's on the ground and some of the challenges are physical. Some of the challenges are a little bit more mental. Like, you've got to, you know, solve a problem before you move on and without giving them away, they're deliberately a little bit of a surprise.
"There is a route around everything, so that if something's not for you, then that's cool."
The event will help aid the charity's rescue missions both at home and abroad, with the organisation involved in helping out with local flooding.
Dan said: "In these difficult times, it is good for people to help, it's really good for humans to help other humans.
"This is a way you can do it without having to fly into an earthquake."
Serve On volunteers go through training to be prepared for deployment to disasters abroad and severe weather events or other emergencies in this country in support of blue light services.
Volunteers are all ages, with some as old as 65 and are from all walks of life, with electricians, nurses, officers and students among those involved.