ANYONE unfortunate enough to have had an accident while out enjoying the dales may have been helped out by one of the volunteer rescue teams. On the last Saturday of the month, the Grassington based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) - which is due to celebrate its 70th anniversary -will hold its main fundraising event of the year. Lesley Tate reports.

VOLUNTEERS from the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue team are looking forward to a rather special reunion at the end of June when they are due to meet up again with cavers they rescued from Providence Pot above Kettlewell on Mothers Day.

The cavers and the other club members from the day are returning to the dales to take part in the fell rescue team’s Wharfedale Three Peaks Challenge in support of team funds - and its major fundraiser of the year.

The rescued group all belong to the Sheffield University Speleology Society and had found themselves trapped by rising snow melt.

The rescue operation was the largest and most complex rescue UWFRA had performed for some years and it was a great effort by the team and other rescue teams including colleagues at the Cave Rescue Organisation, based in Clapham.

Also taking part in the fundraising event will be some members of the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation who were in the area at the time and gave valuable assistance.

“As reunions go this will be a very emotional occasion and we are looking forward to meeting them all again,” said UWFRA’s David Dennis.

“We had been so impressed with the resilience and positiveness of these young cavers and we paid tribute to each one of them and the Derbyshire caving colleagues for how they had helped each other and indeed us in this most prolonged and successful rescue.”

The group of five cavers, all aged between 18 and 25 years old, were underground for 26 hours after becoming trapped in the cave system because of rising floodwater.

The rescue operation also involved North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The initial call was made by police at about 9.30am on the Saturday with rescue teams entering the cave system from both Providence Pot and Dow Cave; the flooded Dow Cave was inpenetrable, and the cavers were eventually found at 6am on Mothering Sunday by four UWFRA volunteers.

Having worked all night on the rescue, the team called on the help of the CRO and the Derbyshire rescue team to get the cavers back to the surface.

Members of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service were on hand to deal with the cavers, who had been underground for 26 hours, but fortunately, they needed little medical attention.

In order to continue to carry out such rescues, the fell rescue association relies on donations, and on its main fundraiser of the year - the Wharfdale Three Peaks Challenge.

Now in its fifth year, and always held on the last Saturday in June, there are three routes to chose from, and all starting from Kettlewell - the longest of 22 miles, taking in Birks Fell, Buckden Pike and Great Whernside.

A 13.5 mile hike, taking in Buckden Pike and Great Whernside, and also a family valley walk, taking in parts of the Dales Way and Paradise Walk.

Both of the longer walks are recognised by the Long Distance Walkers Association. Runners also take part in the routes, so a time recording system has been introduced this year for those aiming to break records, or after a personal best.

The longer routes cost £18 per person to enter, and dogs are not allowed, due to strict land access restrictions, nesting birds, and livestock.

Dogs are however allowed on the popular 4.5 mile family valley walk, which takes an attractive riverside route taking in part of the Dales Way and Paradise Walk. Cost for individuals is £12, and £20 for a family of four.

All walks start and finish in Kettlewell with free parking and a free hot meal at the end, along with finishers teeshirts and medals.

Registration for the 22 mile route starts at 8am, for the 13.5 miler at 8.45am, and for the family route at 10.15am.

Last year’s event raised £6,500 for the association, which has annual running costs of £50,000.

“We don’t get any formal funding and fundraising has to be a part of membership,” said Mr Dennis.

“We are approaching our 70th Anniversary at the end of August and we owe so much to the public for their donations and fundraising that has kept us going all these years.

“ It is always a great day out and most of the team will be on duty across the routes to not just watch over the course but to have some good chats with the entrants.”

More details and signing in details can be found by going to uwfra.org.uk/w3p.