Trainees get fired up for cycling challenge

GMFRS trainee firefighters complete their charity cycle

A TEAM of trainee firefighters have used pedal power to raise more than £1,000 for good causes.

As part of their 16-week initial training course trainee firefighters are tasked with a challenge to raise money for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) nominated charities.

The latest group of trainees completed their charity challenge.

The current cohort chose to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity and Manchester Children's Burns Foundation with a 999km static cycle at Bolton Market Place Shopping Centre.

The team started the challenge at 10.30am and finished 30 minutes before the shopping centre closed at 5pm, raising a total of £1,660 to be split between the causes.

Jenna Cahill, one of the new recruits from Chadderton who will be working at Hollins fire station in the new year, helped organise the event.

She said: "It was really good. Everyone was working dead hard. Everyone was in pain, their legs were like jelly.

"But there was a lot of team work and it was one of those things that beings you together."

Tony Bryan, operational training manager for GMFRS, said: "This is a fantastic achievement for our trainee firefighters.

"As part of the firefighting community both charities are close to GMFRS' heart and thanks to the generosity of colleagues and communities we are able to help The Fire Fighters Charity and the Manchester Children's Burns Foundation continue to deliver the vital services they provide."