A FORMER Monmouth teacher is marking his 50th birthday by taking on one of the toughest mountain challenges in the UK.

Mike Fawcett, a volunteer with Abergavenny-based Longtown Mountain Rescue Team, is competing in the Montane Spine Challenger Race next month to raise money for the team.

The race is a brutal 108 mile mountain marathon across the Pennines that has to be completed in 60 hours. Previous entrants have had to battle through snow, ice, rain, sleet, wind and deep mud.

Mike, a former deputy head at Cross Ash Primary School, is a keen runner, but he’s never done anything like this before.

Mike said: “It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever attempted.

“It’s an unusual way of marking my 50th birthday but it’s for a great cause as I’ll be fundraising for the team’s new control vehicle.”

Longtown MRT is funded almost entirely by public donations and made up of highly trained volunteers who are on call 24/7.

The control vehicle is the team’s mobile operations room from where it runs its rescue operations.

Mike said: “Our existing vehicle is well past its use by date and we desperately need a new one.

“The vehicle is equipped with search management computer technology, radio equipment and rescue equipment. We need to upgrade the vehicle and the equipment.

“Technology has moved on so quickly. Now satellite technology allows us to receive information in the remotest locations. In some situations, we can pinpoint the exact location of lost walkers using their mobile phones.

“Without the control vehicle we cannot operate and it really does mean the difference between life and death.”

You can donate to Mike’s challenge on his Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/

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