Wiltshire Search and Rescue putting their skills to the test in fundraising effort

It's hoped they will be able to collect some important funds

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 17th Apr 2021

Volunteers from Wiltshire Search and Rescue are using their skills as a way to raise money for the charity.

A team are going to be carrying a stretcher with a weighted mannequin over rough terrain for 14 kilometres today (Saturday 17th April).

Anyone who gives their time for the charity are tested on their ability to walk 8km, carrying their search kit, in under two hours.

They're also all expected to be fit enough to support with carrying a stretcher for the last 200m of their fitness assessment, which is vital if their missing person needs to be evacuated.

So in order to get enough funds to continue doing their vital work, they have combined both elements to really challenge themselves.

They're carrying it from Barbury Castle to Avebury and will be run as a relay.

They're hoping to raise ÂŁ8,000 and have nearly hit that target.

Adrian Sawyer, Chair, said:

"As a charity which receives no statutory funding, the pandemic has hit our bank balance hard. Every day we have money to spend but with no opportunity to replace it as we usually fundraise outside supermarkets, at events and through team challenges at workplaces. We've lost over 40% of our donations and with no date in sight to allow us to do face-to-face fundraising, we needed to be inventive."

The charity have been unable to fundraise very much throughout the last year and need some way of getting the ÂŁ26,000 it costs to run annually.

Their incident control vehicle is also ageing, and they will need ÂŁ75,000 to replace it.

Anyone who wants to donate to their cause can do so by visiting their Just Giving page.

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