The Upper Wharfedale rescue team lost a major source of funding with the ending of Broughton Game Show
A team of rescuers has a new group of friends.
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, which covers a large area of the eastern Yorkshire Dales, now has a support group to help them raise cash.
The Friends of UWFRA say they are in the process of getting charity status and building up their membership.
A major source of income for the volunteer rescue ended when organisers of the Broughton Game Show decided to end the event, which had been a fundraiser for UWFRA and the Cave Rescue Organisation for 33 years.
This prompted founder member and Friends chairman Val Walker-Wilton to start the group to help meet the £35,000 annual running costs. The sum excludes expenditure on projects such as the replacement of the team’s two Land Rovers.
Ms Walker-Wilton said: ”A small group of us including husband Wally got together and decided that we could really make a significant contribution to this wonderful voluntary organisation we have looking after us and the all visitors to the Dales.
“Fundraising activities seem to be the most obvious but as we evolve I am sure we will gain members with skills to offer in support of some of the day to day running of the rescue team as well.
“To help free them of some of the behind-the-scenes tasks would enable them to devote more of their valuable time to training and actual rescues
“We also need some more committee members to help get us off the ground and of course we are looking for ideas as to how we can progress our support ”
She can be contracted on 01756 752196 or by email.
