BC Search and rescue: Ready to respond. Every call. Every time

You're a rule follower. You don't take unnecessary risks. You're not someone who pushes boundaries.

It's a beautiful summer day. You're out on the water, enjoying the sunshine, and spending time with your loved ones.

Then, suddenly, everything changes.

You find yourself asking, "How did we get here?"

You and your daughter are crouched on a narrow, slippery slope. Behind you, 30 feet of unstable rock face. In front of you, there is a fast-flowing river.

There's no safe way out.

You keep thinking, "We should be able to get ourselves out of this."

Asking for help feels like admitting failure. But your daughter sees the situation differently. She knows it's time to call.

You reach into your dry bag, pull out your phone, and check the screen. There is still battery life and a few bars of service.

You let your daughter call 911.

Help is on the way.

The RCMP tasks the local BC Search and Rescue team. Trained volunteers respond, bringing the skills, equipment and experience needed to get you both safely home.

And when you finally hug your family again, you realize just how much that help meant.

This is what BC's search and rescue volunteers do. Every single day.

Across British Columbia, more than 3,200 highly trained volunteers from 78 local search and rescue groups respond to over 1,900 calls each year, contributing 500,000+ volunteer hours each year.

They're ready to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

They give their time, their skills, and their expertise to help people they've never met. People just like you.

But being ready for the next call takes more than dedication. It takes training, specialized equipment, and the support of people and communities across BC.

That's where you come in.

Your year-end gift helps support BC's volunteer search and rescue community, strengthening their ability to respond when someone needs help most.

Next time, it could be you who calls.

They show up for BC. Let's show up for them.

Make a year-end donation to BCSARA and help support the volunteers who are there when it matters most.