Lincs firefighters to go the distance with 1000-mile charity ride honouring fallen colleagues

Firefighters from Alford Community Fire Station in Lincolnshire are hoping to raise £5000 for The Fire Fighters Charity with a circa 1000-mile ride to Scotland to meet the team at fellow Alford Community Fire Station, in Aberdeenshire.

Ten riders on eight motorcycles will set off from the Lincs town at 6am on Friday, 1 September – covering around 474 miles up into Scotland. The plan is to stop off on the way to place ribbons on four red plaques – memorials installed in locations where firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Initially planned for to take place in 2027 – the year Crew Manager Stephen Teesdale is due to retire after 40 years of service – the ride was brought forward following the tragic death of Scottish firefighter Barry Martin earlier this year. It is also the 80^th anniversary of The Fire Fighters Charity in 2023.

“It’s taken off well and the locals have really got behind it. We’ve raised way more money than we’d hoped we would”, Alford veteran Teesdale told MCN. “It’s nice when you can incorporate your hobby into raising some money.”

The troop also plan to visit a further four plaques on the way home, as well as a stop at McDonald Road fire station in Edinburgh on the way, where Barry Martin was based.

“I feel it’s important to give back to The Firefighter’s Charity because they’ve always been there,” 57-year-old Paul Armstrong said. “We normally do an annual carwash to raise funds, but this is just a bit bigger!”

Crew members from Alford will be joined on the trip by past and present firefighters from neighbouring stations, including Skegness and Mablethorpe.

“The local businesses have been fantastic, and we’ve done quite a bit of fund raising before [the ride],” fellow Alford Crew Manager Adam Coffey told MCN. “It’s the right time to do it. Lincolnshire as a whole is trying to raise £80,000 for the 80^th year of the charity.”

The team had initially hoped to raise £2000 for the charity but have raised over £4300 before the ride has even begun. Founded in 1943, the group provides help and support for past and present firefighters – looking after physical and mental health, plus much more. To donate, visit justgiving.com