A LIFESAVING rescue service operating in Powys has thanked people from the community who have already helped them raise more than 10 per cent of their target as they aim to build a brand-new £1 million headquarters.
Brecon Mountain Rescue Team launched a fundraising appeal in June, hoping generous Powys residents would help contribute £100,000 to the cause. And, in just two months, they have already amassed just under £14,000, with 247 donations made.
The dedicated team of volunteers provide an emergency rescue service 24 hours a day, 365 days-a-year, operating across the vast terrain of the Brecon Beacons National Park and beyond.
And yet, they receive no government or external funding and operate on an entirely voluntary basis. And the growing demand for their help means they are in urgent need of a new base.
Their public appeal aims to raise £99,000 towards building a new £1.1m headquarters on the outskirts of Brecon, to enable them to respond more quickly to emergencies, and to create an ‘educational hub’.
“Happy Monday everyone. We just wanted to say a huge thank you to those who have donated to our HQ appeal recently,” the team said in a post on their Facebook page on August 15.
“We truly appreciate your ongoing support. With your help, we can continue our work and build a larger HQ to benefit the whole community.”
The team has already raised £750,000 from fundraising efforts over the past decade, and now they are appealing for help from the Powys public to get them to their final target.
“For more than 50 years, our dedicated volunteers have saved lives throughout Mid Wales, not only on the mountains, but also in towns, rivers and lakes across the region, and we have never been busier,” said Brecon Mountain Rescue Team leader Dr Rob Powell.
“We provide specialist search, medical and rescue services, and work closely with the police, ambulance and fire services when they receive a call for help, but are unable to find, reach or rescue those in need.
“We can access places that no other service can reach. As well as finding, treating and rescuing walkers, climbers, fell-runners, mountain bikers and kayakers, we also assist the most vulnerable in our communities – people living with dementia, people who are depressed or suicidal, flood victims and missing adults and children.
“We are an entirely volunteer-run and a self-funded charity and the growing demand for our help has left us in urgent need of a bigger, better building.
“Now we are hoping our community will show us their support and help us reach our target, so that we can build a base that will benefit the whole region well into the future.”
The new headquarters will be designed to help the team respond quicker to emergency calls, store life-saving equipment properly and carry out more training exercises as a full team.
Having a bigger training room will also enable other community organisations, such as the Scouts, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Ramblers Cymru, to use the new headquarters for educational purposes.
The fundraising campaign has so far raised £13,607 and is being backed by television presenter Kate Humble, who lives in the region, and is the official ambassador for the campaign.
To find out more about how you can support Brecon MRT, visit their website at www.breconmrt.co.uk; alternatively make a donation to the new HQ appeal by visiting the funding page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/bmrt-new-hq-999.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here