A MOUNTAIN rescue team more accustomed to the Yorkshire Dales than the Himalayas have pledged their support to the double Nepalese earthquake disaster.

Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT) members have decided to set themselves a challenge to raise cash towards the recovery and reconstruction effort in Nepal.

Working with the army at Catterick Garrison and Gurkha soldiers in particular, members of the team are going to climb the equivalent height of Mount Everest - 8,850 metres - in less than 12 hours.

This challenge will take place on Saturday, May 30 using an indoor climbing wall at Vimy Barracks, Catterick Garrison.

To achieve the Everest equivalent objective SMRT will need to make 738 ascents of the wall in the 12 hour period, working out at one ascent per minute.

A number of the Nepalese soldiers will participate in the climbing challenge, making a team of more than 20 climbers.

All money raised will be donated to the Gurkha Welfare Trust, which has direct contact with areas most in need in Nepal, and all the cash will be used by the trust to help those in need.

SMRT member Tim Cain said: “The scale of the two earthquakes in Nepal has been absolutely devastating.

“We know that many people will already have donated to national charities but by setting ourselves this major challenge with the Gurkhas we hope to help directly in Nepal and show support for the Nepalese people in our local communities.”

To donate, visit a Just Giving page set up to support the team at https://www.justgiving.com/Swaledale-Mountain-Rescue-Everest-Challenge.

Sponsorship of the team on the basis of the number of ascents achieved in 12 hours can also be arranged through direct contact with any team member or visit http://www.swaledalemrt.org.uk.