Fire officers swap pump for pedal power 

An assistant chief fire officer, an area manager, two group managers and a station manager (recently retired) from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for two charities close to their hearts.

Staying at fire stations as guests of other fire and rescue services en route, ACFO Neil Griffiths, AM Tony O’Dwyer, GMs Gareth Scott and Matt Barlow and SM (ret) Rick Aldous will be cycling to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support. Both these charities have, throughout the years, provided much-needed support to Cheshire firefighters and staff and none more so than in this last year in which the Service lost three colleagues to cancer.

The five cyclists have all taken annual leave to set off from Land’s End on Wednesday 5 June, aiming to arrive at John O’ Groats on Friday 14 June. They will be calling at the following fire stations for overnight stops:

• Holsworthy (Devon and Somerset FRS)
• Bridgewater (Devon and Somerset FRS)
• Worcester (Hereford and Worcester FRS)
• Winsford (Cheshire FRS)
• Kendal (Cumbria FRS)
• Moffat (Scottish FRS)
• Kinross (Scottish FRS)
• Aviemore (Scottish FRS)
• Helmsdale (Scottish FRS)

ACFO Neil Griffiths (below right) said: “Our Service has a proud record of raising funds for The Fire Fighters Charity and, as a team, we are only too aware of the benefits that some of our firefighters and their families have received from them so we are keen to support them in raising vital funds.

We sadly lost three members of staff to cancer in the last year and the team was also keen to support those organisations that offer vital services to families in these circumstances. We all know that cancer is a disease that doesn’t discriminate and sadly many of us are only too aware of friends, colleagues and family members who will suffer from cancer in their lifetime. On a personal note, I lost my father in 2019 and Macmillan played a vital role in supporting my family in those very difficult weeks.”

Neil added: “I cannot thank our  fire service colleagues across the country for their wholehearted support and overwhelming willingness to accommodate us as we travel from south to north, and we are looking forward to meeting new colleagues along the way.”

Anyone who would like to support by way of a charitable donation can visit their page at Give Wheel.