Team members will carry the stretcher across the Brecon Beacons. Photo: Western Beacons MSRT

Volunteer mountain rescuers will carry a stretcher across a 50km route in the Brecon Beacons this weekend to mark their team’s half-century.

The Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team hopes to raise its profile and also raise cash towards its £50,000 appeal for a new command vehicle.

The team said its members cover one of the largest areas for a single mountain rescue team in the UK. The team responds to callouts from two police forces, South Wales and Dyfed-Powys.

During a typical year the team responds to about 60 callouts in mountainous, rural, semi-urban, or urban areas. Team members are all volunteers and come from across south Wales.

They all have day jobs and come from a variety of backgrounds including teachers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, electricians, mechanics, managers and company directors.

Nick Hardwidge of Western Beacons MSRT said: “We are starting the carry on the afternoon of Friday 6 June at 4pm from Carreg Cennen Castle.

“The team will continue to carry it east via Herbert’s Quarry north of Brynamman, then across the Carmarthen Fans, Bannau Sir Gaer, Fan Brycheiniog, and down to Dan yr Ogof Caves.

“In the early morning we will continue from Dan yr Ogof across the Western Beacons, Fan Gyhirych, Fan Nedd, Fan Frynych, intending to reach the Storey Arms, below Pen y Fan, on Saturday between noon and 2pm.

“We think the area chosen for the stretcher carry is indicative of the area we primarily cover in the western Brecon Beacons.

“We will have a Spot tracker attached to the stretcher, so that everyone can follow live progress of the stretcher carry via our Facebook, Twitter and website pages.

“We are hoping to raise the profile of the team, our work and the necessity to raise £50,000 this year to replace Bravo Tango, our control vehicle.”

Anyone who wants to contribute can do so via the team’s website, where the stretcher carry can also be tracked.