Mountain Rescue England and Wales

We're walking 192 miles Coast to Coast for Mountain Rescue

We being Judy Whiteside (Mountain Rescue Magazine editor and author of the Call Out Mountain Rescue? handbook) and Gail Todd (Rossendale & Pendle team member) – and we're taking up the challenge to cross England on foot, leaving St Bees on the West Coast of Cumbria on Monday 2 May and arriving in Robin Hood's Bay on Saturday 14 May.

Two weeks' worth of fun and hard slog across the mud, mountains and peat bogs of the Lake District and Yorkshire to raise funds for Mountain Rescue England and Wales.

Along the route we'll be cheered on, and joined, by friends and mountain rescue colleagues from the relevant areas – starting with a big send off from Wasdale MRT, then Cockermouth, Keswick, Langdale Ambleside, Patterdale, Penrith, Kirkby Stephen, Swaledale, Cleveland and Scarborough & Ryedale teams.

If you'd like to spur us on with a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/twirliesontour. It's a big challenge to reach our target of £5,000 but we're confident we'll get there. We might even break through the other side! The response so far has been brilliant.

And, fingers crossed, Sir Chris Bonington will be joining us for a leg-stretch between Rosthwaite in Borrowdale to Grasmere on Wednesday 4 May.

Paràmo Directional Clothing has sponsored us with a Velez Adventure Smock each and Whalley Warm and Dry in Whalley, Lancashire has also provided much appreciated Paràmo kit.

'We are delighted to be supporting the Twirlies on Tour,' said Fiona Park of Paràmo. 'Search and rescue teams were amongst Paràmo's original converts, so it is with a sense of pride that we wish Judy and Gail the very best during both the walk and their invaluable fundraising for Mountain Rescue England and Wales. Good luck from us all.'

To keep pace with our travels across the country – and during training – take a look at the blog. Adventure Eyes will also be following our every move and helping to promote the event through their site. So, wish us luck and help us help mountain rescue!!