Dave MacLeod and a canine rescue friend get into the spirit of the campaign. Photo: Chris James

Top climber Dave MacLeod helped lift mountain rescuers spirits when he joined the launch of a fundraising campaign in the shadow of Ben Nevis.

MacLeod, who has posted some of the hardest rock-climbing routes in Britain, is backing his namesake’s whisky deal to raise cash for Scottish mountain rescue.

Ian Macleod Distillers is donating £10,000 to the rescue charities to kickstart the campaign, with an extra 15p from the sale of each bottle of Isle of Skye 8 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky going directly to mountain rescue.

A special UK edition of the Isle of Skye 8 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky, featuring a bespoke Scottish Mountain Rescue label, will be released for sale in the coming weeks.

The Isle of Skye Mountain Spirit campaign will contribute specifically to the supply of vital new specialised rescue equipment, support to Search and Rescue Dog Association rescue dogs and the provision of avalanche rescue training across the charity’s 26 volunteer mountain rescue teams in the first year of the sponsorship.

Chairman of Scottish Mountain Rescue, Jonathan Hart said: “Scottish mountain rescue is a world class volunteer service.

“There are over 1,000 volunteers in the 26 mountain rescue teams, spread across the whole of Scotland, who freely and willingly give up their time to assist those in distress in the Scottish mountains and other inaccessible areas across the country.

“This volunteer service is available all day, all night and in all weather conditions.

“Working in partnership with Ian Macleod distillers provides Scottish mountain rescue an outstanding opportunity to raise essential funds to support the sustainability of this critically important service.

“Together, we have identified key opportunities for the funds, raised by this sponsorship, to be directed at the provision of essential avalanche rescue training and for the supply of very specialised winter rescue equipment such as stretchers and avalanche probes that will benefit both the casualties, by providing a faster location and transport time to hospital as well as supporting the volunteer team members with improved safety margins by having available the most up to date equipment available.

“After the rescue is successfully concluded, they may also enjoy a wee dram.”

Avalanche survivor Hannah Mcaleese, 28, said: “I was rescued from an avalanche on Ben Nevis in 2006.

“The support from the Lochaber Mountain Rescue team helped me rebuild my life.

“The strength and dedication of the volunteers cannot be underestimated, they go above and beyond their jobs and look for no thanks but they need our support too.

This campaign is a fantastic way to promote the invaluable work that they do day in, day out and I’d encourage everyone to get behind this.”

Dave MacLeod added: “I’m really pleased to see Scottish mountain rescue get the backing they so deserve.

“It’s important that we can all explore the mountains from a health and wellbeing perspective as well as enjoying Scotland’s countryside all year round.

“Scottish Mountain Rescue plays a vital role in safeguarding our wellbeing yet the work of the volunteers goes largely unnoticed. This campaign will be instrumental in helping to raise the profile of the teams’ work and reminds us all why it’s so important to support them.”

The Isle of Skye Mountain Spirit campaign will be supported by national advertising, fundraising events, a dedicated website with online fundraising function as well as the new bottle design based on Scottish mountain rescue photography.

Neil Boyd, UK commercial director for Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “The dedication and unfailing commitment to saving lives that’s shown by mountain rescue volunteers is inspiring and the catalyst behind the campaign.”