Each year District Association’s across the country choose a charity to support, below is the Lakeland DA’s current charity and charities from previous years along with the amounts raised
CURRENT CHARITY
Wasdale Mountain Rescue
Wasdale Mountain Rescue have been assisting people in the western fells of the Lake District for over 50 years, having been formed in 1968. The team consists of about 40 men and women who are all volunteers, from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions. As a charity they are totally reliant on donations for funding and providing a free 24 hour public service, 365 days per year – whatever the weather!
Thier area of responsibility is mainly the beautiful Wasdale and Eskdale valleys, but also extends over Cold Fell towards the coast in the north and onto Ulpha Fell in the south. England’s highest and hugely popular mountain, Scafell Pike, is within thier area and the scene of many rescues.
Thier diverse experiences ensure that they are all able to contribute in different ways, however it’s vital that they all have a good level of local knowledge, the ability to navigate in all conditions, hill fitness, are able to deliver mountain first aid/casualty care, operate safely on steep ground involving ropes, and use digital communications. Those who particularly like water may specialise in Flood and Swift Water Rescue, or even qualify to drive our boat on Wastwater – England’s deepest lake. They train together at least weekly.
PREVIOUS YEARS
Blood Bikes – Cumbria
Lakeland DA’s chosen charity for 2024 was Blood Bikes Cumbria.Blood Bikes Cumbria is a registered charity (Charity number: 1159026) organisation that transports blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines and other urgently required medical items for the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust between premises in North & West Cumbria and hospitals / laboratories in the Newcastle area.
Blood Bikes Cumbria is part of NABB the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes.
We operate our service 365 days a year and do most of our riding at night, sometimes in unpleasant weather. Our volunteers ride/drive our fleet of liveried blood bikes/cars to ensure we present a professional Image.
We want to thank all of our campers for the kind generosity and the support they showed over the year for this amazing charity. Lakeland DA
Keswick Mountain Rescue
Lakeland DA’s chosen charity for 2022 to 2024 was Keswick Mountain Rescue. The Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was founded in 1947 and is a charity that depends entirely on donations. During recent times there have been around 100 rescues a year and each call-out generally involves 12 to 20 members and takes anywhere between one hour and several days. This can only be achieved through the dedication of the current 55 volunteers, the generosity of their employers, and the ongoing support of the public.
During our December 2023 meet, we visited Keswick Mountain Rescue where representatives received a cheque for £623.69 raised from fundraising events held throughout the year at our short meets and THS’s, events that included book sales, raffles, and competitions.
Whilst visiting the Rescue Centre Headquarters the DA committee members unexpectedly got to witness firsthand how some of these donations are put to use when
They found the rescue team responding to a local incident involving 3 climbers where one had slipped, fallen and badly injured his knee. Working in fading light and dropping temperatures the Keswick team assessed how to extricate the casualty. Air support was called, and the casualty was winched and airlifted by the Coastguard to Cumberland Infirmary whilst the Keswick team rigged a rope rescue system to retrieve a third uninjured climber. By working together with the Coastguard, the team avoided what would have been a very long and difficult stretcher carry with a cold casualty. The rescue involved 24 volunteers
We want to thank all of our campers for the kind generosity and the support they showed over the year for this amazing charity.
Lakeland DA
