Aberdeen MRT Seeks Sponsored Hikers

© Aberdeen MRT

Every year a sponsored walk is put on by Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team. The event is popular with local hill-goers, and typically raises about half of the team's annual budget. They still need entrants for this year's walk on June 1st.

The team in training on Ben Macdui  © Aberdeen MRT
The team in training on Ben Macdui
© Aberdeen MRT

The team, which covers search and rescue operations in part of the Cairngorms and the lower hills of Deeside and Donside, celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. June's hike will be their 42nd annual sponsored walk, an event that has proven to be an important source of revenue for a team that typically attends between 20 and 30 callouts a year.

Route map  © Aberdeen MRT

'The Team costs in the region of £30,000 a year to run and apart from a grant from the Scottish Executive (which in 2012 was £12,000), all other funds have to be found from donations or fundraising efforts' explains the Team's Chair Dawn MacKinnon.

'Each year the Team and Association organise a sponsored walk and this is attended by approximately 150 people and usually raises in the region of £15,000. This is the main fundraising activity for the Team and it goes a long way to raising the shortfall in finances required to keep [us] operational.'

This year's route is approximately 25km, starting and finishing at the Keiloch sawmill on the Invercauld Estate and taking in Gleann an t-Slugain and the remote headwaters of the Quoich and the Gairn below Ben Avon. Weather permitting there will be an opportunity for the more adventurous to visit the summit of Culardoch , a local Corbett (see map). The route will be patrolled and marshalled by MRT members, but walkers still need to be well equipped and self reliant. Tea and 'fine pieces' will be laid on in a marquee at the end of the walk.

'This is an opportunity to participate in a walk in the Cairngorms which is marshalled and patrolled by Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team' says Dawn MacKinnon.

'We must stress however that it is a remote mountainous environment and those wishing to take part should be fit and appropriately equipped. Transport is provided from Aberdeen and we will pick up en-route to the Keiloch.'

Participants on a previous sponsored walk  © Aberdeen MRT
Participants on a previous sponsored walk
© Aberdeen MRT

The Team ask that walkers each raise a minimum of £25. Participants can set up a fundraising page on JustGiving

For more info on Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team and the sponsored walk see the team's website.


This post has been read 2,153 times

Return to Latest News

Loading Notifications...
Facebook Twitter Copy Email