Birthday gift contributes over £650
To celebrate her 70th birthday, friends and family of Jennifer Heaton of Yanwath near Penrith have contributed towards a donation of over £650 to Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).
“I held an afternoon tea celebration for my birthday in June at Melmerby Village Hall,” explains Jennifer, “and there were about sixty of us there in all. I had requested no presents but donations and people were very generous indeed - several people sent money even though they were unable to attend!”
“I go walking most weeks - not usually on the high fells anymore and I have never needed to be rescued,” she continues, “but it is reassuring to know that if I were injured or ill, a mountain rescue team would be there to help. I chose Patterdale MRT as the charity to mark my birthday particularly because of the work I saw them doing at Eamont Bridge last November in the floods. The organisation and its volunteers aren’t just available to go out on the hills in all weathers but they help in other situations and on the lake in rescues too. I know that they need donations and fundraising to keep going and it seemed a good way to help – my friends were certainly very supportive of the idea and I hope that other people might consider it in future.”
Joan Watson, Treasurer of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association, the charity behind the Team, met with Jennifer to receive the donation: “Mrs Heaton’s friends and family have been very generous,” she said, “and we have also been able to Gift Aid part of the donation, making their £650 into almost £750. Jennifer is now a Life Member of our Supporters’ Club and we look forward to keeping in touch about Team events, rescues and activities.”
Last year, Patterdale MRT received more than 70 call outs and has attended almost 40 so far this year – details of recent incidents are online at www.mountainrescue.org.uk and copies of the most recent Annual Report are available (priced £2) from the Base in Patterdale and from local businesses.