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Katie's fundraiser for West Mercia Search & Rescue

Katie Petford is raising money for West Mercia Search & Rescue

10YFAN 2026 · 9 May 2026 ·

We save the lives of vulnerable people and help bereaved families start the process of closure by finding their missing loved ones. A completely volunteer organisation operating across West Mercia with trained team members, vehicles, and boats we responded from bases in Kidderminster and Bridgnorth to 50 searches last year, with 5,000 operational, 5,000 training and 4,000 fundraising hours. 100% of all donations go towards running the rescue team. With a nationally qualified team of 64 land searchers with quad bikes and drones, we also operate on rivers and lakes and have a DEFRA rated Flood Response Team and specialist Sonar Team with a national reputation. Our Incident Command Unit is the planning hub for complex searches and on-line planning systems share information with team and police in real time. We provide education to the community in water safety awareness, with our “Home and Dry” campaign. https://westmerciasar.org.uk/homeanddry/ With the voluntary sector equivalent of an MBE: The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service we have also been recognised with a High Sheriff’s Award and are holders of the inaugural Shropshire Community Foundation Award as “Outstanding Community Organisation”. Our involvement of military personnel in the team has recently been awarded an Armed Forces Gold Covenant. 31 members earned with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for “Service to UK Search and Rescue”, and a similar number, will receive the King’s Coronation Medal.

Story

On Saturday, I’ll be taking on 10YFAN—a challenge of ascending and descending the mountain as many times as possible.

​This year, the challenge looks a little different for me. I’m currently nursing a knee injury, which means i most likely wont be able to complete all 10 reps but even if i manage one that better that none! " My goal is simple: to keep going for as many reps as my knee will physically allow.

Why am I doing this?

I’m raising vital funds for West Mercia Search and Rescue (WMSAR). As a volunteer for this team, I see firsthand the dedication required to find missing people and save lives across Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire.

​We are a 100% volunteer-led charity, and we rely entirely on donations to keep our life-saving equipment ready and our teams deployed.

​I might be limping by the end of it, but every penny you donate will make the "reps" worth the pain. Whether it’s the cost of a coffee or something more, your support keeps us on-call 24/7, 365 days a year.

​Thank you for backing me (and my knee!) and supporting the incredible team at West Mercia SAR.

Donation summary

Total
£455.00
+ £111.25 Gift Aid
Online
£455.00
Offline
£0.00

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