South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association is a registered charity.

The operating costs of a Mountain Rescue Team are, as you can imagine, quite significant. By far the team's greatest asset is it's own personnel, so considerable resources of time and finance are invested in the training and development of each and every team member. All of the equipment used by S.E.M.R.A. has a finite 'shelf life', and therefore needs to be replaced on an ongoing basis. Add to this the cost of vehicle maintenance, diesel etc. and it is easy to see how costs can mount.

In the case of S.E.M.R.A., operating costs currently run at approximately €40,000 per annum, which includes equipment, training, insurance, communications and routine running expenses. Team members, themselves unpaid volunteers, subsidise the team's activities by providing, among other things, their own personal equipment, provisions and transport. The Team currently receives an annual grant support from the Department of Transport (approximately €11,500). We also get support directly and indirectly from statutory bodies such as An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, the HSE, the Fire Service, the Coast Guard and Waterford Youth Committee. The remaining running cost (about two-thirds) must be met by the Team's own fundraising efforts, which include street collections, and contributions from Mountaineering and Hillwalking Clubs.

Any donation would be welcomed (and acknowledged). If you are an individual hillwalker, or perhaps the treasurer of a club with a small surplus of funds at the end of the year, please keep us in mind!

Donations can be sent to our treasurer:

Ray Bradfield, Lr. Main St., Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland.

Thank You!