A team from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be tackling next month’s Bristol Half Marathon in full fire kit, in memory of a colleague who died of cancer.

Nine firefighters and two friends will be running to raise money for DKMS, the blood cancer charity, after Guy Tadman – who served at Trowbridge fire station for 22 years – lost his fight with acute myeloid leukaemia in April.

Steve Taylor organised the challenge after having worked closely with Guy for many years.

“When Guy was ill, so many people wanted to do something to support him or the charities which he and his family could turn to for help. He was incredibly proud of being a firefighter, so it seemed appropriate to do something in fire kit. A few of us have done similar challenges in the past, so we know how tough it will be, but we just want to raise as much money and awareness as we can,” said Steve.

The kit that the team will wear for the race on Sunday 19th September will be helmet, tunic, leggings and breathing apparatus cylinder – weighing approx. 20kg.

Running the race will be:
Watch Manager Steve Taylor and Crew Manager Larson Taylor, from Trowbridge
Crew Manager Mike Cleaver from Devizes
Watch Manager Jason Nightingale from the Devizes Training Centre
Crew Manager Dan Fry and Firefighter Jake Brown, who are both based at Swindon fire station
Firefighter Alex Hardisty, from Salisbury fire station
Firefighter Jason Sandy, an on-call firefighter at both Trowbridge and Warminster
Rick Lavens, a retired firefighter from Devizes.

Watch Manager Josh Wyer, who works at the Devizes Training Centre, and friend Rob Maddocks will also run the race as a support crew, carrying water for the rest of the team.

To support the team in their fundraising, please click here.