MRS Training & Rescue has donated a wide range of specialist emergency hydraulic cutting and lifting equipment and a generator to the Ukraine Fire Service through the charity North Norfolk Aid for Ukraine. Since March 2022 a team of 10 volunteers have fundraised for, collected and transported a huge amount of medical and humanitarian aid for the country.
Operations Manager for MRS Training & Rescue at Mansfield, John Mowbray, handed over the supplies to the charity and said: “We were able to find equipment that was surplus to our needs and were keen to give something back to good causes. It is all fully hydraulic so doesn’t rely on an electrical supply to operate or recharge, which is probably quite useful. The equipment is all in perfect working order with plenty of life left in it, and it is also really good to reuse and recycle whenever possible, so delighted we could find a new home for it."
Matt Cole from North Norfolk Aid for Ukraine added: “We are very grateful to MRS Training & Rescue for providing us with this equipment, which is very much needed by the Ukraine paramedics and rescue teams. All will be put to good use as soon as we can deliver it.”
MRS Training & Rescue are also pleased to be donating a similar package through the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) UK to the Ukrainian Mines Rescue Organisation. Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the NUM, said: “The NUM, along with members of the Welsh Senedd and others, have already arranged to supply three 4x4 vehicles filled with medical and humanitarian aid. And just this week, a further two 4x4 vehicles filled with medical and humanitarian aid set off from the NUM South Wales offices to Ukraine. We were also recently contacted by the Ukrainian Mines Rescue, who need more specialised rescue equipment. In difficult situations the availability of appropriate equipment becomes critical to the success of their rescue operations, and we are pleased that MRS Training & Rescue have been able to help us help the Ukrainian mines rescuers.”
Keith Lawson, Mining Manager, said:“We are very pleased to be helping our mines rescue colleagues in Ukraine through our mutual union associations.”
Closer to home, MRS Training & Rescue have donated 2 Petzl Grillons and 24 Petzl Carabiners to the Derby Mountain Rescue Team.
Dave Watson, our specialist work at height trainer from our centre in Swadlincote, volunteers for the rescue team in his spare time and applied for community funding to help support this group.
Paul Barlow, Team Liaison Officer at the Derby Mountain Rescue Team said: “We receive little official funding and rely mainly on donations to be able to continue to provide our service to those who need assistance. The support from MRS Training & Rescue is greatly appreciated, particularly at this time when many of our fundraising activities over the past couple of years have had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.”
