A senior Shropshire fire officer is joining three Staffordshire firefighters to cycle 240 miles to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support.
Group Manager Neil Griffiths will cycle from Uttoxeter to Combe Martin in Devon setting off at 6.30am on Monday, March 26. He will be joined by Watch Managers Mitch Stafford and David Clewlow and firefighter Russ Brown, from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, based in Uttoxeter and Cannock fire stations.
The quartet will start from Uttoxeter Community Fire Station to ride 135 miles to Patchway Fire Station in Bristol where they will spend the night. The next morning they will set off through Exmoor with the aim of getting to Combe Martin Fire Station after 105 miles of cycling to arrive at around 4pm on Tuesday, March 27.
“The first leg of 135 miles was chosen because the height of a firefighters’ largest ladder is 13.5 metres while 105 miles represents our 10.5 metre ladder,” said Neil, who lives at Edgmond, near Newport, and is based at Shrewsbury fire HQ.
“It is a two day journey and we are being supported by fire stations along the way at Worcester and Kinver and then staying with Avon Fire and Rescue Service for a night.
“It will be a challenge and we will be saddle sore but hopeful of raising more than £1,400.”
You can follow Neil's progress on twitter during the marathon journey @SFRS_NGriffiths
Mitch Stafford said: “Both of these charities have helped us at some time or another so we really wanted to give something back in some way and show our support for the amazing work they do.
“The Fire Fighters Charity was such a help to me when I suffered an injury back in 2015, I will be forever grateful for their support and I hope to raise money for them so they can help others.
To donate to their fundraising page visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RussellBrown14
