Grin 'n' Bear It 2006 Coming Soon

One for the diary with advance news that the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team's popular Grin 'n' Bear It fund-raising challenge event is scheduled for Saturday 7 October 2006.

Last year's inaugural event was successful and popular and this year's follows a similar format with an organised fell run or walk starting and finishing at Langsett in the northern Peak District complete with a free hot meal and drinks for all participants.

The short route distance is 15 miles while the full version is 23 miles across the Dark Peak moors. There will be marshalls and checkpoints along the improved for 2006 route, but you still need to know how to navigate and you'll need an OS Outdoor Leisure 1 (Dark Peak) Area Map along with personal walking and safety kit. You can find full route details on the Woodhead MRT web site.

As you're probably aware, Mountain Rescue in England and Wales is financed by voluntary donations with members giving their time for free to help other outoors users in trouble. That means fundraisers like these are essential to the efficient running of the team.

OUTDOORSmagic regular Wayne Thackray who also happens to be communications officer for the team explains the commitment of being a member:

'In between holding down our ordinary jobs and hanging on to the remnants of family life,' he says, 'team members have to train and maintain their skills, maintain vital rescue equipment and vehicles, give talks to local groups and, on top of all that, fund-raise to pay for the upkeep of vehicles, gear and base.'

The Details Entry to the event is £6.50 to members of the LDWA (Long Distance Walkers' Association) or £7.50 for non-members in advance. You can also just roll up on the day and fork out £8 on the spot.

Start times are 8 am for walkers and 10 am for runners and there's an 11-hour cut-off time for completion of the walk. Start point is Langsett Barn - GR SE 211 004.

You can find full details of the event including route information and download an entry form at www.woodheadmrt.org. Oh, one last thing, check the Media Downloads section for some nice Peak District images and a screen saver :-)