Friends of the Lake District and Patterdale Mountain Rescue, two long established Lake District charities, have shared nearly £2,500, the proceeds of their joint on-line auction. 

Running throughout November, the ‘Life of a Mountain Auction’ was supported and promoted by Terry Abraham, following the launch of his film, ‘Life of a Mountain: Helvellyn’.  The auction offered participants the opportunity to bid on several unique lots.

Next year, Patterdale Mountain Rescue will host one of the successful bidders for an exclusive VIP tour of their Base, providing a detailed insight into the work of one of the Lake District’s busiest mountain rescue teams.

Friends of the Lake District are providing a lasting legacy for another successful bidder by planting a landscape tree in Mike’s Wood overlooking the village of Staveley in the Lake District National Park; just one of a number of woods owned and managed by the landscape charity.

Vanessa Rhoden, of Friends of the Lake District, said:

“We’re delighted with the outcome of the auction and as always, humbled that in such a difficult year for everybody, people still have the capacity and generosity to take the time to support us in this way. The money raised will help to fund our new ‘Sanctuary Project’ in 2021. Its aim is to give frontline workers and emergency service personnel recuperation and mental restoration using nature to rebuild their resilience to cope with the demands of these unprecedented times.”

Chairman of Patterdale Mountain Rescue Association, Chris Sanderson, expressed the Association’s warm thanks for participants in the auction, saying:

“The money raised from the auction contributed to our successful New Land Rover Defender Appeal and we are immensely grateful to Terry Abraham, to the other prize donors, and to everyone who placed bids.  The response to the opportunity to secure a VIP tour of our Base was tremendous and we’re working on plans to make sure it is a very special day for the successful bidder.”  

The highest bids for each lot were selected at the end of November and all proceeds have now been split between Friends of the Lake District and Patterdale Mountain Rescue.