The Firechief® team took on a 23-mile relay around Rutland Water, carrying a 25 kg weighted vest and raising £1,025 for Fire Fighters Charity.
At 8:34 am on Thursday 20 August, our first group set off from Sykes Lane and our Walk in Their Boots challenge was officially underway.
The plan was to cover 23 miles around Rutland Water in three relay legs, with members of the team taking turns to carry a 25 kg weighted vest. We started the day with £865 already raised towards our £1,000 target for Fire Fighters Charity.
By the time we finished later that afternoon, the route had not gone entirely to plan, two walkers had taken on an additional leg and 27 supporters had helped us raise £1,025.
Why we took on the challenge
We created Walk in Their Boots to recognise the physical demands placed on firefighters and raise money for the people who support the fire and rescue community when they need it.
Fire Fighters Charity provides care and support to serving and retired fire and rescue personnel and their families, including rehabilitation and mental health and wellbeing services.
As a business working in fire safety every day, supporting the charity felt particularly relevant to us.
The 25 kg vest gave the team a challenging way to recognise some of the physical weight firefighters can carry. We were always conscious, though, that a planned walk around Rutland Water could never replicate the conditions, pressure or risk of responding to a real emergency.
As Reg Pollard put it before the challenge:
“For us, it’s a tough few miles. For them, it’s the job, 365 days a year.”
Around Rutland Water we go
The route was divided into three sections, starting and finishing at Sykes Lane, with changeovers at Peninsula and Lyndon.
Euan, Liam, Andrea, Paula, Sarah and Cleo made up our first walking group, taking on the opening leg to Peninsula. While the planned distance was 7.9 miles, Euan’s watch recorded the leg at 8.8 miles (14.12 km).
Things did not stay quite as straightforward as we had planned.
When one member of the relay had to pull out, Euan and Liam agreed to head back out for the third leg after completing their first. A slight route miscalculation added around 1.6 miles to that section.
Euan’s watch recorded Leg 3 at 8.1 miles (13.03 km), bringing his total for the day to 16.9 miles (27.15 km).
The rest of the team kept things moving at the changeover points, helping with refreshments and equipment and keeping each group updated.
The weather played its part too. After a largely dry start, the forecast rain eventually caught up with us near the sailing club during the afternoon.
Target reached
At around 3:09 pm, while the final part of the walk was still underway, we received the news we had been waiting for: we had reached our £1,000 fundraising target.
More donations followed, taking the final amount to £1,025 from 27 supporters.
Alongside his 16.9-mile total, Euan clocked up 40,000 steps, with around 11 km completed while carrying the weighted vest.
His recovery plan involved fish and chips, a well-earned drink and, the following morning, an appearance in the office wearing Crocs. Given the circumstances, we’ll allow it.
Thank you
The day gave us a small appreciation of the physical weight involved in the work firefighters do, while raising money for a charity that provides important support across the fire and rescue community.
A huge thank you to everyone who walked, carried the vest, helped along the route or donated. We could not have reached our target without you.
And thank you to Fire Fighters Charity for the work it continues to do for serving and retired fire and rescue personnel and their families.
Euan was already looking ahead by the end of the evening:
“Onto the next one.”
£1,025 raised. 27 supporters. Thank you.
Find out more about the care and support provided by Fire Fighters Charity.