Some of the gear donated to the Edale MRT appeal for Nepal earthquake victims. Photo: Edale MRT

Some of the gear donated to the Edale MRT appeal for Nepal earthquake victims. Photo: Edale MRT

Mountain rescuers have been overwhelmed by a response for outdoor gear it launched for victims of the Nepal earthquake.

The collection over the weekend produced two van-loads of clothing and equipment to be flown out to the Himalayan country struck by the natural disaster.

And the appeal gained added urgency with today’s news of a second quake hitting the impoverished country, with further deaths and devastation.

Edale Mountain Rescue Team fundraising officer Dave Torr set out to find a charity to ship out vital supplies.

Mr Torr said: “Through Bob James, a retired Peak District park warden, the charity Nepal in Need was willing to fly out anything that we could arrange to collect together.

“Working with James and Rob Turnbull, directors of Outside based in Hathersage, and all other mountain rescue teams in the Peak District, a joint collection of tents, sleeping bags, clothing and footwear was organised for the weekend of the 9-10 May.

“The response from mountain rescue team members and families and also Outside customers was overwhelming. RAB, the famous local outdoor company also heard about the collection and donated a fantastic 100 down jackets.

The donated items filled both a Transit van and one of the team's vehicles. Photo: Edale MRT

The donated items filled both a Transit van and one of the team's vehicles. Photo: Edale MRT

“A Transit van was driven from Brecon to the Peak District by Bob James but there was such a mountain of gear the team made the decision to use the team’s own control Mercedes Sprinter as well, minus all its seats, and despatched two team members the following day to deliver the remaining gear.”

The clothing and equipment was due to be flown out to Nepal today to a base for distribution, though the plans were made before today’s news of further devastation.

Mr Torr said: “A huge thank you to a lot of people that made this all happen, Outside staff and customers, Tom Richardson, RAB Outdoors and all the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation teams and last but not least Bob James who does a fantastic amount of relief work around the disaster areas of the world.”

Scores of people are reported to have died and thousands injured after today’s earthquake, the epicentre of which was not far from Everest Base Camp. The 7.3 magnitude tremor struck about noon local time and also caused deaths in the neighbouring countries of India and Tibet.

It came just over two weeks after the first earthquake in Nepal, which is believed to have killed up to 10,000 people, including up to 20 climbers struck by avalanches at Everest Base Camp.

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