DETERMINED firefighters are swapping sponges and soapy water for pounding the streets to raise money for charity.
Six members of Dunbar’s fire and rescue service crew will complete a total of 900 kilometres throughout April.
Watch commander Ian Denholm, crew commander Jason Mitchell and firefighters Jared Knox, Kenny Peters, Ross Queen and Graham Forsyth will each run five kilometres each day throughout the month in aid of The Firefighters Charity and The Family Support Trust.
Mr Denholm told the Courier: “Due to the current climate, the crew had been looking at different ideas to raise money for the chosen charities and we came up with the 5k per day as it’s easier to fit in with work commitments.
“None of us are runners but it has been agreed that some of this can be done at walking pace!
“No extra training has been done and, to be fair, it was only agreed last week so not a lot of time to train so far.”
Usually, the firefighters would carry out a charity car wash, with the town’s Asda store and neighbouring garden centre having been used as venues in recent years, as well as the fire station’s car park on Countess Road.
However, with coronavirus restrictions making that impossible, the crew members have decided to take on a different challenge.
Firefighters are gearing up for a running challenge to raise money for charity. Back row, from left: Kenny Peters, Jared Knox and Graham Forsyth; middle row: Ross Queen and Jason Mitchell; and Ian Denholm at the front
The watch commander added: “The six taking part have not had to use our two chosen charities but we do know colleagues who have used them before and the excellent support they have on offer for affected crew and families within the fire service past and present, plus the rehabilitation facilities which are funded by donations.”
The Firefighters Charity was set up to offer support to any member of the fire service who is injured, ill or in need of psychological support.
Meanwhile, The Family Support Trust, which was set up nearly 100 years ago, is the oldest fire and rescue charity in the UK.
It is for the benefit of fire and rescue service personnel and retired members and their families.
Mr Denholm acknowledged that this year’s challenge was going to be tougher than their usual fundraiser, with no extra crew to substitute in to allow others a breather.
Instead, each of the crew members will take on the challenge individually, with no set route and the possibility of clocking up the kilometres on treadmills offered.
To sponsor the firefighters, go to gofundme.com/f/dunbar-firefighters-do-5k-a-day-in-april
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