The North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team (NDSART) will trek up Belstone Tor next month to mark five years since it helped a local MS sufferer reach the summit.

In September 2021, NDSART volunteers made resident Gilby Taylor’s wish to stand on the top of Belstone Tor again come true. Gilby had been a keen hiker in his younger years, but a rare form of degenerative multiple sclerosis (MS) left him unable to walk, so the NDSART team stepped in and carried him to the top and helped him stand on the tor again.

Sadly, Gilby passed away in August last year, but his widow, local residents and members of the original team will retrace the route on September 5 in celebration of Gilby’s life.

His widow Jane Taylor, said: “Gilby talked about the Belstone Tor Challenge with such joy. It was a day filled with laughter, friendship and community spirit, and it meant the world to him. Bringing everyone together again feels like the perfect way to celebrate that happiness, thank the volunteers, and enjoy the sense of togetherness that made the original challenge so special.”

The original Belstone Tor Challenge garnered widespread local and national media coverage, including an appearance on BBC Breakfast, and raised approximately £10,000 for the mountain rescue group.

This year’s celebration will also raise money for the NDSART and include a community walk to Belstone Tor, a group photograph on the summit, refreshments, and fundraising activities.

A spokesperson for North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team said: “The Belstone Tor Challenge showed what can happen when a community comes together with kindness and determination. Five years on, we’re delighted to join Jane, friends and local residents in celebrating Gilby’s story and the incredible spirit that made the day unforgettable.”