The WALX Peak District Festival in May 2023 was a huge success and whilst hundreds of walkers enjoyed a range of inspirational walks in the stunning Peaks, the organiser, Sam Armstrong from WALX Derwent and Dales was only too aware how important the local Mountain rescue team would be should something go wrong.

Of course, Sam a qualified Mountain Leader herself, ensured all walks were risk assessed with suitably trained leaders but with walkers coming from all over the UK, she was acutely aware that many are not accustomed to such terrain. ” We are all first aiders and trained to deal with incidents but we had the added comfort that the Derbyshire Mountain rescue team were at the festival hub should we need additional help to get somebody to safety.

Sam and June, a key Member of the Derwent and Dales team, held a fundraiser on the Friday night with the help of Ken Hames (TV presenter, adventurer, explorer, ex SAS Major) who delivered an inspirational presentation to an audience who also enjoyed a delicious three course meal. It was the perfect way to kick of the social and educational side of the weekend and to date has raised over £2,000 too!

The Derby Mountain Rescue team were also at the HUB all weekend where they were on call but showcasing their work to both festival goers and the local population. With hundreds of walkers completing a range of walks over 3 days we are delighted to report we did not need to call out the rescue team and everyone went home tired but happy!