Welcome to Cleveland Search & Rescue Team

Cleveland Search and Rescue Team Help our Heroes

24 Oct 09

In December 2006 members of the Queen’s Royal Lancers (QRL); led by Jason Armstrong a serving soldier and Cleveland Search and Rescue Team (CSRT) member, set themselves the challenge of running the 109 miles of the Cleveland Way in under 24 hours. The aim of the event was to raise funds for a memorial to the QRL for those that had made the ultimate sacrifice. CSRT provided safety cover for the 23 hours and 20 minutes that it took to complete the challenge. This was greatly appreciated by the runners; especially as they only had 8 hours of daylight, and it was agreed that 25% of the funds raised would go towards CSRT. The event rose over £3500 with £800 coming to the team.

The gauntlet was thrown down and on Friday 19 June 2009 CSRT ran their own Cleveland Way Challenge. The organisation for the challenge started early in the year and the event organiser, Derek Birtwhistle; a seasoned endurance runner himself, set about getting volunteers from the team to run 8 – 14 mile legs of the route. The date for the challenge was set and we had 4 months to train. Before we knew it the event was upon us and at 2200hrs at Filey Brigg the teams first two runners; Rob Johnson (Team Leader) and Carl Faulkner, set off. The darkness and severity of the cliffs resulted in a slow but steady pace throughout the night. Soon after dawn, the pace increased and this was maintained throughout the day. The challenge was completed in 21 hours with around 10 team members coming back out to take part in the final leg finishing at the market cross in Helmsley. The longer hours of daylight and milder weather certainly gave the rescue team the upper hand over the QRL, but all the runners had put in a hard day’s work.

The event was in aid of the CSRT base appeal and as a return gesture it was agreed that 25% of our funds raised, would go to a military charity. Help for Heroes was chosen and on the 1 October 2009, Lieutenant Colonel Todd, Commanding Officer of The Queen’s Royal Lancers received a cheque for £695.99 on behalf of Help For Heroes.

Over £2800 was raised through the challenge which will make up some of the £150000 the team need for the new team base.


Cheque Presentation by Jason Armstrong and Rob Johnson (Team Leader) to Lt Col Todd, Commanding Officer,
The Queen’s Royal Lancers.