Leicestershire firefighters to start training for incredible mission

A group of firefighters who tackle blazes across Leicestershire and Rutland will soon start training for a massive mission.

They'll climb the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, wearing their full fire kit - boots and helmets included.

It's not the first time the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) staff have taken on something like this before, having already climbed Mount Snowdon in full kit for charity.

This time around, they're hoping to raise £1,345, or £1 for each metre climbed, for The Fire Fighters Charity and The Well Kibworth.

Rutland district manager for LFRS, Jamie Dawes, said: 'with all of our gear it's up to 25kg of additional weight, and a lot to carry up a mountain for six or seven hours.'

'The kit is designed to keep heat out when you're dealing with a fire. What we find with that is that it also keeps the heat in, which makes it a lot more demanding than if we were just in exercise gear.'

'I imagine it will be tough on the way up, a great sense of achievement at the summit. The walk down will be easier, although still tough. We'll probably grab a celebratory beer at the bottom.'

See the Fire Fighters Charity Walk fundraiser page here: https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/fundraising/firefighter-charity-walk-mount-ben-nevis

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• leicestershire fire and rescue