Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team

05/10/2026

Last weekend, eight members of Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team travelled to Italy to compete as two teams in the Dolomiti Rescue Race.

A huge congratulations to Calder Snakes and Snails for successfully completing the brutal 17km course. An outstanding achievement, and a moment of real pride as they represented MREW internationally.

The Dolomiti Rescue Race is one of the world’s most demanding mountain‑rescue competitions, held in the dramatic landscape of the Italian Dolomites. This year it brought together 78 teams from across Europe.

Far more than an endurance event, the race is designed to test a spectrum of mountain‑rescue skills under pressure over the route.

This year’s course pushed teams through an exceptionally steep ascent to Forcella Piria (2,180m), then onto a via ferrata across the Crode del Mandrin requiring a head for heights, precise footwork, and upper‑body strength, before moving onto a section of fixed ropes to aid descent back onto the mountain path.

The route towards Rifugio Antelao gave brief respite from the previous steep ascent, but this was short‑lived as before long teams found themselves ascending up to Cima Tranego (1,849m).

At this point teams were required to set up an abseil, all descend 60m safely, and then retrieve and repack their ropes.

Back on the path, teams descended steeply through the forest and onto a stretcher assembly and carry challenge near the finish, testing speed, coordination, and rescue‑readiness under pressure.

Against scorching temperatures and technical terrain, Calder Snakes and Snails delivered an exceptional performance.

Their effort reflects not only physical endurance, but the professionalism, teamwork, and spirit that define UK mountain rescue.

Thank you to the Dolomiti Recue Race, the volunteers and Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico - Station of Pieve di Cadore 2° Zona Delegazione Dolomiti Bellunesi for organising the race and for being so welcoming.

27/09/2026

Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team (CVSRT) is honoured to announce that Natalie Graves, the new Mayor of Luddenden, has chosen CVSRT as her charity of the year.

Natalie began her term on 12th September at the Mayor‑making ceremony in the village centre. CVSRT is especially meaningful to her, as her late husband Richard served with the team until his passing in 2018. Her son Jack will serve as Deputy Mayor.

The day’s events raised around £2,500 for local causes, including CVSRT, a fantastic achievement for the community.

We congratulate Natalie and wish her every success in the year ahead.

22/09/2026

Great to see so many orienteers out enjoying the local Moors.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19tBkNh9iK/

21/09/2026

Collection Boxes

Thank you to all the pubs, shops and businesses that host one of our collection boxes. They are a vital source of income for the Team and help us continue our work in the community.

Following our most recent collection of boxes, mainly in the Hebden Bridge and Ripponden areas, we are delighted to report that over £660 was raised.

We'd like to thank:

Blue Pig Midgeholes Wmc, The Old Bridge Inn (Ripponden), Valli Opticians, Innovation Cafe/Bar, Rohan (Hebden Bridge), Max's Jewellers, Blazing Saddles, Totally Screwed Hardware, Hebden Bridge Sports And Social Club, Olive’s Cafe Bistro (Mytholmroyd), and Engine Café (Dean Clough).

Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference and we are grateful for the continued support of these local businesses and their customers.

If your shop, café, pub or business would like to host one of our collection boxes, please get in touch at [email protected] and we'll be happy to arrange it.

20/09/2026

Thank You To Harveys of Halifax Department Store

We are very grateful to everyone at Harveys Department Store in Halifax for having chosen Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team as their Charity of the Month during June 2026.

Throughout the month, we had the opportunity to put up display boards around the store, and on special days team members and some of our amazing search dogs were there to meet shoppers, chat about what we do and answer questions about Mountain Rescue.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Harveys customers we raised an amazing £678.02 in donations. On top of that, we also sold £286 worth of CVSRT merchandise, helping to raise even more vital funds for the Team.

A special thank you to Tracy Harvey, Managing Director, and Christine Gow, Operations Manager, for all their help, encouragement and support in making the whole event happen. We really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to share what we do with your customers and the community.

And finally, thank you to everyone who stopped to chat, donated, bought merchandise or simply showed their support.

18/09/2026

The Yorkshire Tractor and Landrover Run is back on Sunday 27th September 2026 — raising funds for CVSRT’s 60th year!

Please see the poster below for all the details!

Every donation helps keep our volunteer team responding.

Donate: givey.com/theyorkshiretractorgroup

10/09/2026

Go Steve!

A huge thank you to Hebden Royd Town Council Mayor Cllr Steve Woodhead, who is running the Great North Run this Sunday (13th September) to raise vital funds for Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team.

This follows his granddaughter Winnie’s incredible 60‑mile cycle challenge in July, which raised nearly £4,000 for the team.

If you’d like to support the Mayor’s charity half marathon, you can sponsor him here:
https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC

https://www.facebook.com/share/19GHzkFBRe/

🏃 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆! 🏃

On Sunday 13th September, the Mayor of Hebden Royd Town Council, Cllr Steve Woodhead, will be taking part in the Great North Run to raise funds for Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team (CVSRT).

CVSRT is a 100% volunteer-run charity that saves lives in wild, remote, and urban environments. Operating on behalf of West Yorkshire Police, they provide crucial emergency support, including missing person searches, swift-water rescue, and technical crag evacuations.

You can sponsor the Mayor's charity half marathon in aid of CVSRT here ➡️ https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC

Each Mayor choses a charity to support throughout their Mayoral year. This year, our Mayor Cllr. Steve Woodhead has chosen to support CVSRT because they provide a vital lifesaving service in our beautiful but often challenging landscape.

The Mayor’s half marathon comes hot on the heels of his Consort and granddaughter Winnie Woodhead’s cycle challenge in July. Cycling 60 miles from Mytholmroyd to Manchester, 8-year-old Winnie raised nearly £4,000 for CVSRT!

The Mayor’s future fundraising events include a Charity Quiz on Wed 20th January at Olive’s Cafe Bistro in Mytholmroyd, and a Ceilidh at Mytholmroyd Community Centre on Saturday 20th March. Both events are open to all and tickets will be available soon!

Sponsor the Mayor’s charity half marathon:
https://gvwhl.com/O8JUC

03/09/2026

Callouts

Harden and Bingley 24/08/26, 16:32 & 17:37

Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to assist with a mountain biker who had collided with a tree, sustaining an injury to their lower leg.

Team members worked alongside the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and ambulance crews to deliver care on scene before the casualty was transferred to hospital.

While this incident was ongoing, a second call came in for a walker with an ankle injury following a slip.

Fortunately, both incidents occurred within the same general area, allowing several CVSRT members to be re-tasked to assist HART personnel with transporting the second patient to the awaiting ambulance.

A busy few hours for the team and some great team work with the statutory emergency services to ensure both casualties received timely care.

Harden
CVSRT in attendance: 20
Duration of callout: 4 hrs 35 mins

Bingley
CVSRT in attendance: 14
Duration of callout: 2 hrs 17 mins

Also in attendance: YAS, HART

Photograph: CVSRT stock picture

02/09/2026

Thank you to Hargreaves Foundry

Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team would like to express our thanks to Hargreaves Foundry for choosing us as one of the charities supported during their 150th anniversary celebrations.

Their initiative, inviting every employee to nominate a local cause for a £150 donation, is a thoughtful way to honour the company’s long history while investing directly in the Calderdale community.

We’re especially grateful to Steve Rollins for nominating CVSRT. His support helps our volunteer team continue delivering life‑saving search and rescue cover across the Calder Valley, maintain essential equipment, and provide ongoing training to keep our community safe.

Thank you once again for including us in your anniversary celebrations and for helping strengthen the work we do.

01/09/2026

Cake Galore!

A huge thank you to two brilliant community fundraisers! Recently, we have seen not one but two fantastic bake‑sale efforts supporting the Team and we’re so grateful for everyone involved.

EweMove Estate Agents in Hebden Bridge & Sowerby Bridge hosted a lovely bake sale in Mytholmroyd, raising £86. Thank you to the whole Ewemove team for your energy, kindness and community spirit.

Peter Erdhart (Former Team Member) and his family ran a refreshment stall on the Todmorden Boundary Walk, raising £60. It’s always special when past team members continue to support the work we do, and we’re incredibly thankful for their time and generosity.

Every cake baked, every brew poured, and every pound raised helps us stay equipped, trained and ready to respond when our community needs us most.

Thank you all, your support makes a real difference.