One walker grins and bears it

Supporters took to the Pennine hills to help raise cash for mountain rescuers.

Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team’s main annual fundraiser took place in the extraordinary October heatwave last weekend, when 200 walkers donned t-shirts and shorts to tackle routes up to 37km (23 miles) long.

The walkers taking part in the Grin ‘n’ Bear It challenge negotiated the hills and moorlands around Penistone and Holmfirth on the northern edge of the Peak District national park, setting off from the rescue team’s Hade Edge base.

There was also a 26km (16-mile) runners’ route, a shorter walking route of a similar distance and a family walk around Hade Edge and Hepworth.

Team secretary and Grin ‘n’ Bear It organiser Phil Newing said: “This always a huge undertaking for us, taking up many, many hours of work.

“All our kit has to be paid for by donations from members of the public, legacy and fundraising.

“Supporting the team in fundraising is just as important as being on the hill doing the mountain rescue stuff. Raising the money to provide our essential service is becoming harder month by month and without this kind of public support we would find ourselves struggling to help out local communities.”

The team staffed checkpoints and provided refreshments for participants.

A spokesman for the team added: “Despite recent announcements of a grant from the Government to the tune of £124,000 to support the 48 Mountain Rescue teams in England and Wales, teams still need the vital support from public donations. This is why events such as this are of huge importance to the team.”