A BROTHER and sister are fundraising for a mountain rescue team which had attempted to save their late father, who lost his life while out walking.

Keith Pearson had been an avid outdoor enthusiast who loved walking, bird-watching and volunteer work in his local countryside in and around Guisborough Forest, South Gate and Eston Hills.

But 20 years ago, while out on a walk just after Christmas, he died of a cardiac arrest aged 60.

Now his children, Karen and Andrew have set themselves a series of fundraising challenges throughout 2018, to raise money for charitable causes, including Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team whose members had tried in vain to save him.

The rescue organisation is based in Great Ayton and is made up of about 50 men and women who are on call 24 hours a day to help people lost or injured on the North York Moors and other areas.

Its members are highly trained and their skills include advanced first aid, off-road driving, radio communications, navigation, search techniques and crag rescues to name but a few.

Members of the team are unpaid and the team has to raise the £25,000 annual running costs itself by various charitable means.

Keith’s son, Andrew, from Marske near Redcar, said: “Keith, our dad, lost his life while out walking a few days after Christmas and despite the best efforts of his family and the air ambulance he sadly did not survive following a cardiac arrest. He was aged just 60.

“We want to celebrate his life but also make a difference to others enjoying the great outdoors and to recognise the fantastic work that organisations such as Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team do to keep people safe.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the mountain rescue team’s efforts on the day we lost our dad and would really like to show our appreciation by fundraising over the coming year.”

Karen and Andrew will be taking part in a series of family challenges throughout the year to mark the 20th anniversary of their father’s death.

The fundraising was kickstarted with Andrew and Karen taking part in Dry January and will continue with a series of physical challenges.

The siblings posted on their JustGiving page: “The challenges we will be taking part in will be physical challenges for us and will see us doing some different events, enjoying parts of the UK that our dad used to spend time in doing the things he loved.”

By Wednesday, the pair had already raised £777 of their £1,000 total fundraising target.

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/KeithPearson1998