Brecon Mountain Rescue Team is an emergency service provided entirely by volunteers and funded almost completely by charitable donations.

Whilst people recognise the commitment of the volunteer team members, the vital work supporters do to raise funds is often overlooked.

Kevin Harding, the team’s fundraising officer, thought it important to recognise and reward the hard work and commitment to raising the funds that keep the team functioning.

On Wednesday, April 9 the team held a Special Award Certificate Presentation evening at their Headquarters in recognition of individuals groups/organizations and business’ who have provided significant support, going above and beyond the norm.

“The community and local business selected have shown significant support, mainly in funds but in other ways too.

“The operational team cannot function without this and these people should be considered as part of our wider team.

“They have put a lot of energy, initiative and hard work into supporting the work we do.

“It is important to us to show our appreciation of community members and local business’ who have gone above an beyond in their fundraising for the team,” said Team Chair Duncan Forbes, who presented the awards.

Local business’ to receive awards for continued and innovative fundraising support and provision of services, equipment and supplies were:

PCI Pharma Services - Hay-on-Wye

Goldstone Books - Camarthen

The former Giglios Café - Brecon

Crickhowell Adventure - Crickhowell

Valley Group - Clydach

The Brecon Tap - Brecon

Thank you to all who have supported these companies in their fundraising efforts. A substantial percentage of the yearly running costs of Brecon MRT have been covered by four yearly events:

The WAAT4 Challenge - Dyfed Powys Police

Brecon Beast Mountain Biking Event - Biped Cycles Brecon

The Black Dragon Challenge and The Beacons BEAT (formally Tal Y Bont Trial) - Newport Outdoor Group.

The organizers of these events were presented with awards and we would like to extend thanks also to all the participants of these events over the years.

Mandy Mills, known to the team as the cake lady, also received an award for her and her grand daughter Tia’s innovative project baking and decorating cakes of all types and sizes, which she sells at local stores and events and will even make to order to raise ongoing funds for the team.

A final award, to be presented privately, went to Grace and Fran Potter and Family who, with the support of many in the North Powys/Montgomeryshire area, have raised a substantial sum of money in Memory of James Corfield who sadly lost his life in Builth during the Royal Welsh Show in 2017.

This support has allowed the team to implement capital investment plans to improve response to Mountain Emergencies.

After the awards, visitors had a tour of the base and vehicles, and had demonstrations of some of the lifesaving kit the team have been able to purchase through their fundraising efforts.

The team would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the dedication and hard work from team members, Kev Harding and Martin Gregory who play a vital role co-ordinating fundraising for the team.

Many thanks, to all in the Brecon and wider Mid and South Wales communities who have contributed to supporting your local Brecon Mountain Rescue Team.

For more pictures of the event see this week’s Brecon and Radnor Express on sale now.