Wiltshire firefighter prepares to run London Marathon in full fire kit, in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity

A Wiltshire firefighter is set to run this year’s London Marathon in full fire kit and breathing apparatus, to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.

Dan Fry, a Crew Manager with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service - based at Swindon - will take on the 26.2 miles on Sunday, 2 October in front of thousands of supporters.

He chose to support The Fire Fighters Charity having seen the support it offers first-hand – and what a difference it can make.

The Charity supports the health and wellbeing of serving and retired fire and rescue service personnel, their dependants and other eligible members of the UK fire services community, throughout their lives, helping them to live happier and healthier.

Dan began fundraising for the Charity after tragically losing a colleague to cancer last year. He’s now hoping to complete the marathon in full kit while carrying a breathing apparatus (BA) set.

He says: “I’ve witnessed the great work that the Charity can offer through my close friends and colleagues. It is very reassuring knowing that this service will be there to support both me and my family, if called upon.

“Last year we lost a colleague to blood cancer, a serving Watch Manager who lost their life far too early. In his name, and raising money for charity, a group of firefighters from DWFRS ran the Bristol Half Marathon in full fire kit and BA. From that incredible event, I have developed a strange passion and obsession to running in fire kit and BA!”

He will join Luke Pritchard, who works for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and Will Jones, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, in full fire kit on the day.

You can support Dan’s fundraising at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/firefighterfry.

And there are several other runners taking part in aid of the Charity, for very moving reasons…

• Maria Smith is running in memory of her late husband, Rusty, who was an on-call firefighter for 31 years with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. Rusty passed away suddenly in May 2019. Read her story here.
• Will Cashmore is taking part after both he and his dad, a retired West Midlands Group Commander, were helped by the Charity following injuries. Read their story here.
• Kayleigh McInnes, a firefighter with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, is running having seen both her dad and grandad helped over the years. Read her story here.

With The Fire Fighters Charity relying almost entirely on donations to fund its vital work, none of the support it offers people like this would be possible without the generosity of its supporters. You can support others just like them now by donating at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/donate.