A mountain of cash is handed to rescue teams
Stirling area mountain rescue teams will benefit from a four-figure cash boost thanks to generous staff at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Arrochar, Lomond and Killin mountain rescue teams will split £4,786 between themselves to help support their crucial search and rescue services.
After being joined by staff who helped raise the bumper sum volunteers were presented with a cheque at the national park headquarters in Balloch.
Each year employees choose a charity of the year to support and the three mountain rescue teams were chosen for the 2016/17 term.
Staff then ran a series of events and activities throughout the year including cake bakes, a quiz, tea and toast mornings and a tuck shop along with some more extreme pursuits such as marathon running and swimming in a bid to raise as much cash as possible.
All three teams are run completely by volunteers and provide round-the-clock search and rescue services.
Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, is delighted that employees have managed to raise such an impressive sum.
He said:“The national park is visited by around four million people each year and includes many popular mountains and walking routes, such as the West HighlandWay.
“Unfortunately, from time to time people do get into difficulties on these routes. These teams of volunteers are able to deploy immediately at all times of day and the year, and in all weathers, to get to people often in life-threatening situations so the service they provide is absolutely vital.
“The charity of the year is voted for by our staff and they really throw themselves into fundraising, having a lot of fun as they do. I’m delighted with the amount we’ve managed to raise for the mountain rescue teams over the past year and want to thank our staff for all their efforts.”