Search and rescue volunteers set out from Ely in 171km challenge to raise £5,000 to support their work

Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue 'SearchAthlon': Deputy Lord Lieutenant Chris Parkhouse join CamSAR to start the challenge (Image: Archant)

Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue (CamSAR) completed the challenge to raise £5,000 as a contribution towards a new support vehicle which will carry vital search resources such as bikes, kayaks, an underwater camera as well as medical equipment.

The challenge covered some 30 cities, town and villages, was completed in 23 hours and 40 minutes by a group of 24 members who covered the distance on foot, on bikes and in kayaks.

Chairman Jonathan Harwood said “The pride which everyone felt when we crossed the finish line ahead of time was immense.

“All the hard work that Wayne Bent and the organising team undertook to ensure this was achieved with nothing short of a miracle.

Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue 'SearchAthlon': CamSAR foot team handing the baton to the bike team ready for its trip through Fenland.: (Image: Archant)

“The whole team needs to be super proud of what they have achieved on this challenge and continue to achieve on a daily basis for the people of Ely and Cambridgeshire.”

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Chris Parkhouse said “We support all good worthwhile causes and people giving selflessly to their communities, and it was a great pleasure to have been invited to represent the Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire at the start of the Cambridge Search and Rescue SearchAthlon in Ely on Saturday.

“CamSAR undertake very important work for us all and I hope that the SearchAthlon helped to spread the word far and wide while also raising funds. Many congratulations on the success of the event and all good wishes to the CamSAR team for future activities.”

CamSAR works with the statutory emergency services as volunteers, mainly working to locate and find vulnerable and high-risk missing people who may be suffering from dementia, mental illness, despondency or autism alongside the police. They also work alongside the fire service when flooding occurs across the county.

Cambridgeshire Search and Rescue 'SearchAthlon': The CamSAR awareness stand in the middle of Ely. (Image: Archant)

There is still time to donate by visiting:

camsar.org, facebook.com/cambridgeshiresearchandrescue, twitter.com/CamSAR999, instagram.com/cambslowlandsar or by text to 70070 “CSAR14 £10”.