On the night of Saturday 25th June 2011, Warren & I are taking part in the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team overnight hike to raise funds for a 4X4 ambulance for the team.

This is a 32km hike overnight from Kilbride rifle range, across the Wicklow Mountains - keeping to the border between Dublin & Wicklow, hence “Walk the line”, right back to Marley Park.

We are expecting to complete this hike in less than 8 hours.

As this is a sponsored event, we will be looking for support from everyone.
As they say, every little helps.

A typical call out:

On 28th May 2011, while hiking in the Fairy castle area of the Dublin Mountains, a young female girl guide who was on a day hike from Larch Hill Scout Centre, the young girl tripped while descending from Fairy Castle along the Wicklow Way, sustaining a forearm injury. The guide leader - realizing it was quite a walk back to Larch Hill, called for Mountain Rescue assistance. The team sent a 4x4 vehicle to meet up with the group and bring the injured party back to Larch Hill Scout Centre.

About DWMRT:

The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team is a voluntary 112/999 rescue service, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, responding to those who find themselves lost and or injured in the mountains

The Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team comprises of 40 dedicated, highly trained and committed volunteers. 

The passion for the great outdoors brings many an experienced hill walker and novice to our mountains, and when things go wrong they are here to help.

The ethos of mountain rescue is mountaineers helping other mountaineers who find themselves in difficulty and in the early days of mountain rescue within Ireland, this was the case. Over the last number of years, the numbers of people taking to the mountain ranges for recreation purposes all over Ireland has increased significantly and so has the need for mountain rescue. Proper equipment and training will bring the level of risk down, but it will not completely remove the possibility of even the most experienced having an accident.

It costs in the region of €45,000 - €50,000 to run the team every year. These costs are based on insurance policies, vehicle running costs for the 2 vehicles (insurance, servicing, maintenance), communications (Phones, Pagers, Radios) etc.

Team membership is made up from people from all backgrounds, accountants, nurses, painters, building contractors, police officer, fire fighters, paramedics and even first aid instructors. There is one thing in common with all of our members and that is their all have some form of mountaineering background and they want to contribute their time and expertise back into helping somebody in need.

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As we, as a Scout group, become more proficient in hill walking, we are quickly realising that we may find ourselves in situations where mountain rescue may be needed. For this reason, both Warren & I wish to give this event our support.

Any financial support that you can give in sponsorship will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Yours in Scouting,

Oisin Dunne (Group Leader) & Warren Stott (Thurs - Cub Leader).