Novel scheme boosts funds for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team

• Avanti West Coast fundraising initiative at Penrith reaches £8,000 milestone
• Customers and community help raise vital funds for Penrith Mountain Rescue
• Cumbrian station’s charity bookshelf offers variety of titles in return for donation

Penrith station has helped to raise thousands of pounds in vital funds for the Cumbrian town’s local volunteer search and rescue team with a successful community bookshelf scheme.

The fundraising initiative, which encourages passengers and the community using Penrith station to take a book in return for a charitable donation, has raised over £8,000 for Penrith Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).

Funded entirely by donations, Penrith MRT operates with approximately 40 on call team members who are made up of unpaid volunteers. They assist those lost or injured on the fells and cover the largest geographic area of any of the Lake District MRTs.

The £8,000 fundraising milestone has been achieved over eight years after colleagues at Penrith station chose to dedicate its charity bookshelf to supporting their local MRT, to raise money and awareness of their work.

Money received through the station’s bookshelf scheme is essential – contributing to the charity’s annual operating costs.

Peter King, Leader of Penrith MRT, commented: “Penrith MRT is incredibly grateful for the support of the staff at the station in making this such a successful, long running fundraiser for us. It’s a win-win: passengers choose a good read, and their donations help us to continue to serve whoever gets into difficulty in our patch – whatever the time of day, and whatever the conditions.”

Mark Green, Avanti West Coast Station Manager at Penrith, said: “We’re proud to support Penrith Mountain Rescue Team, who are an integral part of the local community – looking out for the thousands of visitors that explore this beautiful part of the world. The charity bookshelf has helped to raise vital funds and just goes to show that a small donation can make a big difference. We would like to thank our customers and the community for joining us to show our appreciation for the great work the Mountain Rescue Team do every day of the year.”

To keep the bookshelf stocked up and help the Avanti West Coast team continue fundraising, the local community are invited to donate unwanted literature at Penrith station.

ENDS