A rescue team in Yorkshire has had to ditch plans for a new building after torrential rain washed out one of its main fund-raising events.
The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO), based at Clapham, aids both potholers and fellwalkers in the West of the Yorkshire Dales and parts of Cumbria. It relies for much of its annual income on the Broughton Game Show, which had to be cancelled last month when heavy rain washed out the site.
Gaping Gill during a winch meet: source of rescue team's funding
Plans for an extension to its headquarters have now been put on hold after the washout left a £7,000 hole in the voluntary rescue organisation’s budget. Neighbouring team Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA), which shares the proceeds of the show, is out of pocket to the same amount.
The CRO also benefits from the annual Gaping Gill winch meet hosted by Bradford Pothole Club, during which members of the public pay to descend the 340ft cavern by bosun’s chair.
Now the CRO is appealing for local businesses to come to its aid so it can complete its planned expansion. Petzl, Lyon Equipment and the Yorkshire Dales National Park at present help the team financially, which this year has undertaken 29 rescues of stricken walkers and cavers, a lamb and a highland cow! Last year the team had 51 call-outs.
UWFRA has running annual running costs of £15,000, so the income from the Broughton event, normally provides almost half its needs for the year. In 2006, the team had 22 call-outs and also operates both above ground on the Yorkshire Dales fells and below them in the limestone caves and potholes of the eastern side of the national park, as well as the area to the South.
The game show, which has run for about 20 years in the grounds of Broughton Hall near Skipton in North Yorkshire, is scheduled to take place again next year on Sunday, 30 June.
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
