Lake District brand Herdy has created a neck warmer to help raise funds for the area’s mountain rescue teams.
Every sale of the Ewe Tube will mean £1.50 is donated to the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association.
The packaging of the Ewe Tube contains important information about the AdventureSmart campaign, which provides visitors with guidelines to ensure their safety during their Lake District adventures. By asking themselves simple questions, visitors can determine whether they are adequately prepared for a day on the fells.
The campaign’s goal is to reduce the number of emergency callouts, as the first half of 2023 saw an eight per cent increase in callouts and an 83 per cent increase in May alone.
Richard Warren, chairman of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, said: “Meeting with Herdy’s Spencer Hannah a year ago to discuss how Herdy might help the volunteer teams was also instrumental in the creation of a group of like-minded Cumbrian businesses with the sole aim of helping to reduce the increasing numbers of truly avoidable rescues.
“The Ewe Tube, in addition to being an extremely functional and valuable item of clothing, promotes the #BeAdventureSmart messaging on the packaging with those three questions to keep outdoor adventurers safe and make a good day even better. Ewe Tube sales will also provide significant funding for the teams to maintain the free search and rescue service.”
The association oversees the coordination of 12 mountain rescue teams comprising over 400 volunteers who are always ready to respond to emergency calls, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.
The volunteer mountain rescue teams depend entirely on donations and fundraising to sustain their operations.
