Running the Great North Run with a Mountain Rescue Stretcher

I'm running the Great North Run half marathon to raise money for North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team. I'll be doing this with the iconic mountain rescue Bell stretcher on my back. 

The Bell strercher was first invented over 50 years ago and is still used by North of Tyne and many other Mountain Rescue teams around the UK. Its robust metal frame, wire mesh back, fold out handles and multiple straps make it ideal for carrying casualties but terrible for running with - trudging round the Great North Run with it on my back felt like a fitting challenge I couldn't resist!

More information about North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team:

North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team delivers essential Search and Rescue cover for the whole of the Northumbria Police area, including much of Hadrian’s Wall, the Cheviot Hills, Simonside Hills, Kielder Forest and parts of the Pennine Way.

The Team covers both urban and remote environments and call outs include searching for missing or vulnerable people, and rescuing walkers, fell runners, climbers and mountain bikers who are injured or lost.

The Team is made up entirely of skilled and professional volunteers, responds to around 50 call outs each year and are on call 24/7/365.

The service is a charity which receives no funding and relies on kind donations to keep the Team operational.