This term, the boys of Patchell’s have voted to support Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) as their house charity- a cause close to the hearts of many at the College.

To raise awareness (and funds!), the boys are taking on a challenge that will simulate the effort and endurance required to rescue someone from a remote location. On Sunday 16th November, they’ll carry a weighted ‘casualty’ dummy on a stretcher to and from the summit of the quarry- a round trip of 12km (7.5 miles), half of which is uphill.

Giving up their Sunday afternoon, the boys are keen to show just how physically demanding these rescues can be, and why organisations like SMR deserve our support.

As a school that spends so much time benefiting from the outdoors- whether through CCF, DofE, hillwalking, or adventure training- we recognise that things can, and do, go wrong. It’s the volunteers of Scottish Mountain Rescue who are often the ones answering the call when they do.

About Scottish Mountain Rescue

Scottish Mountain Rescue supports 26 volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams across the country, including dog teams (SARDA), cave rescue, aerial support (SARAA Scotland), and over 850 trained volunteers. These teams operate alongside the police, RAF, Coastguard, and emergency services to provide a vital life-saving service in some of the UK’s most challenging environments.

Founded in 1965, SMR is a registered charity, run by volunteers and supported by just three staff. Every donation makes a real difference to their work.

How You Can Help

We’d love for the OG community and friends of the College to get behind this effort. Donations can be made securely via our JustGiving page- it’s fast, simple, and safe, and your support will go directly to Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Thank you for helping Patchell’s boys support this brilliant cause.