Aberdyfi fundraising officer Ian Pilcher, thanks Dolserau Hall manager Wayne Leslie. Photo: Aberdyfi SRT
A tour and activity provider has given a boost to a rescue team’s appeal for new radios with a donation of more than £16,500.
The cash from HF Holidays’ Pathways Fund was handed over to Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team.
The team, which covers part of southern Snowdonia and mid-Wales, is planning to replace its analogue communications system with a digital one. It said, as a co-operative society with more than 900 volunteer walk leaders itself, HF Holidays recognises the commitment and dedication of volunteer-led services and know the funds will be greatly welcomed.
Team treasurer Graham O’Hanlon said: “The replacement of analogue VHF with a digital radio system has been progressing around England and Wales over the last couple of years, and as a region, we have been following developments keenly, hoping to learn from the experiences of other areas.
“In north Wales, the system was trialled by Llanberis team, one of the busiest in the country, and with a positive response from them, we decided it was time to get the ball rolling for our team.
“While analogue systems work over a limited range and on a line-of-sight basis, the digital system and associated repeater network will allow communications to move via the internet over greater distances and access areas that were historically blackspots with no coverage. The HF donation will enable us to build such a network.”
HF Holidays handed £16,582 to Aberdyfi SRT at Dolserau Hall, one of the provider’s properties.
Team members line up with HF Holidays staff at Dolserau Hall. Photo: Aberdyfi SRT
Mr O’Hanlon said: “The team has had a long-standing association with our local HF hotel, Dolserau Hall, with volunteers giving presentations about the team’s work on a regular basis, but this donation was still completely unexpected.
“It has been a fantastic boost to our project at a time when fundraising opportunities for the team have been severely restricted and money is tight all around. We know that there are lots of deserving causes out there and are grateful that HF chose to support us.”
