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Bracknell Firefighters’ Charity walk – the Hard Way
A team of eight firefighters from Bracknell will walk across Berkshire in full operational breathing apparatus this weekend to raise money for a local charity.
The firefighters will leave Bracknell fire station at 08.00 on Friday morning, wearing the metal cylinders, containing air, and supportive webbing harness, with face masks and fire helmets. They will walk to Newbury fire station that day and from Newbury to Maidenhead fire station on Saturday. The final leg of their journey on Sunday will be from Maidenhead, via Windsor and Slough fire stations before turning homewards to Bracknell, where they are expected to arrive late afternoon to be welcomed by friends and family.
Bracknell station manager Rob Watson said: “This will be tremendously demanding physically, the sets will start to feel very heavy and although the firefighters are used to wearing them, they would not usually be wearing them for such a long time or for such sustained periods of activity. They will have their masks on so it is not like breathing fresh air, it will definitely be a test of stamina.
“To ensure their welfare, the walkers will go in four teams of two so that they have a chance to rehydrate and rest and there will be a support team in place, together with vehicles carrying spare cylinders. The charity they are walking for, Anita’s Choice, was chosen because it involves a local lady who is known to the station and they wanted to do something unique to help. We will be carrying buckets with us so we hope that everyone who sees us will take the time to make a donation – I am sure that will help the walkers to feel that their blisters are all worthwhile!”
The firefighters also ran a competition to guess how many cylinders of air will be used up during the walk. The prize is a mountain bike, kindly donated by Halfords and all the proceeds will go to the charity appeal.
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