We are doing this challenge in memory of Charlie Froud who tragically died at the age of 14 in a light aircraft crash in the Wicklow mountains in Ireland. The Charlie Froud Foundation was set up to financially benefit the volunteer rescue services whose members risked their lives to search tirelessly for the plane in hazardous weather conditions and over rugged terrain. This challenge will raise money specifically for The Glen of Imaal Rescue Services who alongside The Mountain of Mourne Rescue Services, the Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescue Services, the Coastguard and the Guarda, played a huge part in what was a complicated operation which ultimately had the saddest of outcomes.

The Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team, (The Glen Team),is a voluntary Mountain Search and Rescue Team. They are a unit of the Irish Red Cross Society and a designated 999 emergency resource. Volunteers give their time freely and are available 24/7 365 days of the year. When they started out, 30 years ago, there were a handful of Team members dealing with a handful of callouts per year. Now with 38 members dealing with 111 callouts in 2013 –obviously with such demands, the costs for the Team in terms of constant equipment maintenance, replacement and ongoing training is significant. The Moonlight Challenge is the main fundraising event for the Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team. It was brought into being in 2010 to assist in raising sponsorship to help construct their Mountain Rescue Base which was completed in 2012. Following on from this, the successful Moonlight Challenge events of 2012 and 2013 helped secure a new mobile command vehicle, as our old Transit was in bad need of retirement after serving 14 years as Rescue Base for the Team.

The Moonlight Challenge is an adventure through some of the most spectacular scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. The route is approx. 27km and the event takes place under a full moon, cloud willing! Beginning in the afternoon, walking through the evening into the moonlit magnificence of the mountains finishing to the good will and cheers of the Rescue Team themselves, warmed by some home cooked food and hearty entertainment.

For more info please visit http://moonlightchallenge.com/

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