Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 02/08/2010 12:01

One lady with a sense of adventure and a talent for fundraising has been rewarded for her efforts in raising over £475 for The Fire Fighters Charity, by becoming a honorary firefighter for a day with Blue Watch at Falmouth Community Fire Station.

Carolyne Holland from Redruth joined more than 170 ladies at the Ladies Driving Challenge hosted by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service in March 2010 in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity at RAF Portreath, Redruth.

The ladies grabbed the opportunity to drive a variety of vehicles from JCBs to ‘bendy’ buses and tractors to police cars. For the non-speed merchants there was even the opportunity to drive a horse and carriage, all kindly donated by local organisations.

As part of her reward for raising most sponsorship money through the Ladies Driving Challenge, Carolyne was treated to a VIP tour of Falmouth Community Fire Station and spent the day with the duty crew taking part in operational training and getting an insight into a career in the fire service. She spent the day with Blue Watch and took part in drills that covered Search and Rescue (breathing apparatus), practical pumping (water and hoses), and line rescue at Pendennis Point. She was presented with the President’s Award on behalf of CFRS and The Fire Fighters Charity for the sponsorship money she raised for the 2010 Ladies Driving Challenge.

The Ladies Driving Challenge event raised £26,000 in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity which offers support to all fire service personnel and their dependents during times of need, by providing services such as therapy and recuperation facilities.

Carolyne encourages other ladies to take part in the next Ladies Driving Challenge saying “It’s an awesome day; it gives us women a chance to get into any vehicle, have a lot of fun, and raise money for a really good cause at the same time. I loved the number of different vehicles available and was amazed at the patience of the instructors. It’s a Ladies Driving ‘Challenge’ with vehicles of all types, and I would thoroughly recommend the event to any female with a sense of adventure”.

If you would like to join in the fun at next years Ladies Driving Challenge, CFRS will be holding the event on Sunday, 20 March 2011 at Portreath and you can register now by visiting http://www.ladiesdrivingchallenge.co.uk/ or you can ring Mike Perraton on 07717 895424

Carolyne also won a weekend spa break for two at St. Michael’s Hotel, Falmouth.