The Westmorland Gazette’s Readers to the Rescue campaign aims to raise £40,000 for Kendal Mountain Rescue Team to buy a new state-of-the-art vehicle that will act as a ‘mobile base’. This would allow better communications on rescues and potentially save lives. This week SARA ROYLE talks to about the team's latest callout, which highlights the need for the vehicle

THE need for a new mobile base was made all the more evident after Kendal Mountain Rescue Team's latest callout.

While undergoing training at the their Busher Walk base last Wednesday (November 8) evening, the team were contacted by Cumbria Police.

Officers were concerned for a missing vulnerable person who had been reported missing by her husband in the Ghyll Head area.

Kath Jackson, deputy team leader for the team, said that the police were in the fortunate position of having more than 20 rescuers on hand to help.

At 11pm search dog Cullin gave handler John Dunbavin an indication of a find and a 44-year-old woman was found.

"It was not a very nice night," she said. "It was very wet. She was quite cold and disorientated but very fortunate because we got such a quick response she was able to get warmed up and walk down to the roadside."

Kath said that, as is often the case, poor signal proved to be an issue while searching for the woman.

"It's a great example of when the control vehicle would be used," she said. "Because it was a situation where we had to pass control over to the site because we were not getting good radio communication back to Kendal."

Kath and team leader Dave Howarth are gearing up for their 170-mile epic journey that kicks off this evening (November 16) at Kendal's Mountain Festival.

The pair will be cycling, running and paddling between each of the Lake District's 10 mountain rescue bases in order to raise funds for the new vehicle.

Although they have been preparing for some time, Kath said that she was apprehensive about it.

"The time for anymore physical preparation is over and it's just about getting my head around what we are trying to do and how we are going to keep going," she said.

If you have been helped by Kendal Mountain Rescue Team and would like to share your story, please contact Sara Royle on 01539 790260 or email sara.royle@nqnw.co.uk

You can also donate to the campaign online. Visit https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/fundraiser/kendal-rescue-round