10th January 1998, I lost my father (Ian Marper) on Grasmour fell, just near Buttermere. He was out for a morning walk, when the weather changed and he was blown off the edge of the mountain. The Cockermouth mountain rescue team did everything that day to try and save him. However, they were unsuccessful. The team were so good to our family post incident. Furthermore, they provide so much help to the lake district on a daily basis.

The team are responsible for rescuing people and animals from the Buttermere, Ennerdale, Lorton and Loweswater valley areas of the Lake District, and in north west Cumbria:

- Available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day

- Volunteers spending 1500 hours per year on rescues

- A registered charity solely funded by voluntary contributions

- Annual operating costs of £100,000

I am running the London marathon in aid of these fantastic people, who are all volunteers and give their free time to saving lives in the mountains. I know times are very hard. However, anything you can donate or spare would be fantastic.