fbpx

Stranraer Fire Station Smashes Fundraising Goal

A team of firefighters from Stranraer Fire Station have come joint top in a national fundraising event that saw them cycle over 5,000 kilometres in a week and raise over £4,500 for charity.
Each year staff at the station take part in a different charity fundraiser. This year Crew Commander Tony Reid invited his retained colleagues to take part in the ‘Ride Now’ cycling challenge and they jumped at the chance.

The ten-strong team took up the challenge during April to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care with the aim of completing 30 miles each per day over a seven-day period. This quickly increased and by the end of the week some team members had clocked up as many as 130 miles a day.

Tony said: “This challenge appealed to us as only two of the team were cyclists and we all agreed it was a good way to spend time together outdoors now restrictions have eased as well as help us keep fit.

“We planned a thirty-mile circuit around Stranraer and Wigtownshire but on our first day we ended up doing fifty miles and that set the bar for the rest of the week. After that a few of the team were going home and doing the same miles again on their static bikes too. It definitely brought out a touch of competitiveness and all for a great cause.”

He added: “We set out to raise £1,500 and to triple that amount is phenomenal. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support and enabling us to raise this money so Breast Cancer Care can carry out their vital work.”

Joe Shepherd, Station Commander said: “Being a member of the retained fire service is all about being a part of, and giving back to, the community. This achievement shows the teamwork our firefighters possess and their determination to support people in whatever way they can.”

The team of ten included Stuart Anderson, John Brown, Justin Brown, Gavin Church, Lewis Dunn, Tanya Ellis, Jason Gallacher, John Harvey, Tony Reid and Stuart Wales.