Firefighter Owen Bennett is taking on an epic 100-mile walking challenge for a charity close to his heart. Owen, a firefighter at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s Central Station, has set himself the ambitious target of covering 100 miles on foot to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity.

On 11 June 2021, he will be walking the Leicestershire Round, a non-stop 100-mile route with some of the most picturesque scenes in the county.

Owen, 37, said: “This is a true grit challenge which will require endurance and mental robustness, but it’s for a great cause so it will all be worth it.”

The Fire Fighters Charity provides confidential, personalised support to the whole of the fire services community, delivering mental health, physical health and social wellbeing services.

“This charity is extremely close to my heart and that is why I’ve chosen to fundraise for them,” said Owen. “Fire services across the country are all like a big family, so to be able to give back to those people who are in their time of need by supporting The Fire Fighters Charity means so much to me.”

The charity, like many others, has been struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and fundraising like Owen’s has never been more needed.

Laura Challis, Community, Corporate and Events Fundraiser at The Fire Fighters Charity, said: “On behalf of all at The Fire Fighters Charity and our beneficiaries, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Owen and LFRS for joining our Fire Family Challenge by holding the Leicestershire Round event. Our fundraising income has fallen significantly due to the pandemic, so we’re incredibly grateful to all our remarkable fundraising supporters, like Owen, for generously donating their time to raise money for our Charity. 

“Once again, a huge thank you to Owen and the LFRS team for their continued support during this very challenging time. We wish them the best of luck with their incredible challenge – we’ll be championing them all the way.”

Owen added: “My biggest worry is getting blisters or being injured and not being able to get to the end of the route. But I’m really excited to challenge myself, hit those pain barriers and push through them.”

To donate to Owen’s Leicestershire 100 Challenge, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/leicestershire100.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:
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About the Service

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

During 2019/20, we attended a total of 8,541 emergency incidents, including 2,079 fires and 748 road traffic collisions. A total of 7,274 Home Safety Checks were completed and we fitted 4,720 smoke alarms. 305 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to 26,218 pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,218 community safety activities, totalling over 11,000 hours of time engaging with members of the public.

The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by over 30 percent. 

Contact:

Corporate Communications

Direct: 0116 210 5768

Corporate.communications@leics-fire.gov.uk

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