Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service – World Record Challenge

Four firefighters from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service will be attempting to break three World Records at next Sunday’s Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon. The challenge is to complete the half marathon in various levels of firefighting equipment.

“This challenge will be undertaken in honour and memory of colleagues no longer with us, and to raise funds for both Cancer Research UK and the Firefighters Charity

“The charities are close to our hearts as we are also remembering our colleagues and friends, Ff Trevor 'Trev' Bryson 666, CM Steve 'Simmo' Simmons 792 and Ff Michael 'Mikey' Matthews 4718”

The team includes Crew Manager, Paul Shattock and Firefighters Grand Whitehead, Ashley Buxton and George Trott.

Paul is a Crew Manager at Bury St Edmunds fire station and Grant, Ashley and George are all based at Ipswich East station.

This is in remembrance of late colleagues Michael Matthews, Trevor Bryson, and Steve Simmons, plus many others from the fire service community who have died from, or live with, the effects of cancer.

Completing the half marathon distance of 21km within the required time in each of the following categories will see three new world records set by the team.

Paul will be in full protective equipment and breathing apparatus and aims to set the record in what is a brand-new category – the fastest half-marathon dressed as a firefighter with self-contained breathing apparatus and breathing air from the cylinder.

Grant and George are chasing the record for running a half-marathon while in full firefighting protective equipment and carrying breathing apparatus but not ‘under air’ – this currently stands at three hours and 10 minutes.

Ashley will be in physical training kit whilst wearing a breathing apparatus set, for which the record is currently two hours and 21 minutes.

A full set of fire kit – comprising boots, protective trousers and smock, and helmet - weighs around 100lbs (45kg), while fully-charged breathing apparatus weighs around 26lbs (12kg).

Paul said:

“It’s heavy kit and it’s going to be tough but we are doing this not just because we want to raise awareness about the fire service and its charity, but in memory of three much-missed friends plus other colleagues from the firefighting family who have been lost to cancer.

“We’ve all been training hard as we really want to bring those records to Suffolk, but we couldn’t have done any of this without the fantastic backing we have had from our support team.

“The bonds that you make in the fire service are very tight and that sense of teamwork is what drives you to keep going.”

The Fire Fighters Charity offers specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community, empowering individuals to live happier and healthier lives.

They are the UK fire family’s charity, here for every member of the fire service community. They exist to help all to live healthier and happier throughout their lives and they do that by providing a broad range of health, wellbeing, and research services. Formed during the Second World War to support the bereaved families of firefighters who had died during the Blitz. The Charity has honoured the legacy of their bravery and sacrifice and evolved over the past 80 years.

Cancer Research UK was formed 20 years ago, in 2002. However, their history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

Thanks to public support, their pioneering work into how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer has benefitted millions of lives over the past 120 years. A number of bodies work together to ensure that they make the best use of the funds they receive and continue to carry out world-class research. For the past 120 years, they have been making discoveries that have saved countless lives. But there is so much more to do.

Their strategy sets out how they will accelerate progress towards a better future. Their aim is to maximise the positive impact life-saving research has on people and the planet, while minimising the negative impact.

To support the team’s fundraising mission, you can do so by clicking here

Entries are still open for the Larking Gowen Ipswich Half Marathon taking place on Sunday 22^nd September. For more information and to sign up click here