Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 29/09/2009 09:11

A summer of charity events by Cornwall’s firefighters has culminated in a cheque presentation to the two charities, Children’s Hospice South West Precious Lives Appeal and The Fire Fighters Charity, chosen to benefit from the hard work and commitment of firefighters across the county.

A total of just over £8,000 has been raised so far and Cornwall County Fire Brigade Group Manager Andy Barrett organised a thank you and cheque presentation event at Penzance Community Fire Station on 24 September for all his colleagues in the Brigade, and their families, who have worked so hard and given up their time to raise money for the two charities.

Fundraising events included ‘Feet on Fire’ a mammoth walk by a team of firefighters along Cornwall’s picturesque coastal footpath. The idea for the ‘Feet on fire’ fundraising marathon originated from fire fighters at St Just fire station who walked up the south coast from Lands End for 5 days and then drove across to the north coast and walked back again from Morwenstow to Lands End in 5 days covering an amazing 248 miles and raising more than £5,000 along the way.

Another major fundraising effort came from firefighter Nick Harvey from Camborne Community Fire Station who cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End in an amazing 4 days, 6 hours and 24 minutes and raised over £1,500.

Other events which have contributed to the impressive total included firefighters in Penzance ladder climbing the height of the 3 peaks at the Wharfside shopping centre; a Caribbean party night at Penzance Community Fire Station; a BBQ at Wadebridge Community Fire Station and firefighters at St Ives Community Fire Station collecting money throughout the whole of August.

Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities Lance Kennedy added, “It’s great when firefighters give up their spare time to help others in this way. The local communities came out in force to support these events, and had a lot of fun along the way. I can speak on behalf of the firefighters when I say how grateful we are for the public’s support and the contributions made by local businesses at such events, and I am very pleased to see that the firefighters great work has raised such a sum of money for two extremely worthwhile charities.”

Wendy Leach, Chairman of Penzance Friends Group, Children’s Hospice South West accepted the cheque for £4,700 on behalf of the Precious Lives Appeal saying: “I was delighted to accept the cheque at Penzance Community Fire Station. This magnificent sum of money will go towards realising the dream of building Little Harbour Children’s Hospice at Porthpean, St Austell. Last Saturday the first turf was cut; we are hoping to start building next spring and welcome our first families in the winter of 2011. Our thanks go to all those who took part and supported this wonderful group of people helping Children’s Hospice South West to make the most of short and precious lives.”