The team undertakes regular rescues where casualties are airlifted to hospital. Photo: Edale MRT

A Peak District mountain rescue team has decided to donate cash from its annual Christmas fundraiser to another appeal.

Volunteers from the Edale Mountain Rescue Team will collect donations in Sheffield city centre for the Northern General Hospital’s helipad appeal.

Many outdoors enthusiasts are flown to the hospital after injuring themselves climbing or walking in the area of the Peak District covered by the team. A new helipad will allow air ambulances to transfer critically injured patients directly into the emergency department without the need for a ground ambulance.

Martin Gorman of Edale MRT said: “When a patient has suffered major trauma, the faster they receive specialist treatment, the higher their chances of surviving or surviving well. It means that every second really can count.

“Many of the casualties that we rescue in the Peak District are flown to the Northern General by air ambulance so this is a cause that is very close to our hearts.

“Because of this, we’ve decided to use our regular Christmas fundraising event at Barkers Pool in Sheffield City Centre to raise money for the helipad appeal instead of the rescue team.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to help out our colleagues, both at the hospital and in the various air ambulance teams that we work so closely with throughout the year.

“All the money that our team members raise on Saturday 13 December will go direct to the helipad appeal. We’re sure that the usual generosity of the people of Sheffield will provide a real boost to the appeal.”

Details of the £1.5m appeal are on the Sheffield Helipad website.