A Bridgnorth firefighter is among a team of UK sportsmen aiming to tackle a world beating challenge to play the longest ever game of rugby.
Firefighter Luke Veal and colleagues from across the UK will play a full contact Rugby Union match in Worcester aiming to raise £23,000 for the Fire Fighters’ Charity.
With the current Guiness World Record standing at 28hrs and 23 mns, it promises to be a long drawn out game, especially for the spectators.
The Firefighters Charity team of 23 players will come up against Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a military charity which supports bereaved children who have lost a parent serving in the British Armed Forces.
The match kicks of at 8am on May 12 at the Worcester Warriors Premiership Rugby ground.
Luke, who spent some time recuperating after breaking a knee ligament while skiing, said he wanted to give something back to the Fire Fighters’ Charity which helped him when he was injured.
“The injury meant that I couldn’t do operational duties for eight months. But due to fantastic support from the charity and physiotherapy in Penrith at their recuperation centre, I returned to full duties,” said Luke, an on call firefighter for eight years.
“I want to try and raise as much as possible and Bridgnorth Aluminium, where I work as a fire engineer, is kindly match funding me up to £1,000.”
Luke’s justgiving page is justgiving/lukeveal1
In a message of support to the players, Alan Knell, regional fundraiser for The Fire Fighters’ Charity, said: “Embrace the day lads. It’s something you will love to hate. The main aim though is to raise huge sums of money for the fire family. You will be a rugby legend at the end of it, promise you.”
During the two day rugby challenge, there will be camping, games and activities for families, celebrity appearances and live entertainment.
The Fire Fighters Charity gives respite, recuperation and rehabilitation to sick or injured firefighters and their families at national centres around the country. Set up in 1943 to help wounded firefighters and their families during Word War 2, it is entirely self funding and needs £8m a year to continue.
The services which the charity offer are open to all serving operational fire fighters, Fire Control, support staff as well as those who are retired.
