Mountain Rescue teams provide valuable assistance in many emergencies, not just in the mountains and countryside but in public emergencies such as flooding.  It is also staffed by volunteers who give up a lot of their time and money to properly train for their role.

I ran the Mont Blanc marathon in 2011 to raise money for my local MRT and this year I'm stepping up the bar to run 50 miles to raise money for the national organisation, since I enjoy spending time in various national parks around the UK. 

Give that so far the longest run I've completed was 27 miles then this will be a tough challenge for me. The route is along mountain trails and includes 3000m of ascent just for the added challenge!  More details here: http://www.lakeland100.com/the-lakeland-50

Spending time in the great outdoors and challenging our bodies in various ways is something we should all feel encouraged to enjoy on a regular basis.  Despite good preparations, accidents occasionally happen and having these teams  available for emergencies is a luxury we should not take for granted.