Local firefighters saddle up for charity bike ride

Watch Commander Roy Purvis from Lisburn Fire Station, and firefighter James Harper from the Regional Control Centre in Seymour Street have joined Firefighter Noel McKee, and Crew Commander Davy McCrea to cycle almost 700 miles in a bid to raise money for Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS).

The team set off on Monday from the City Hall in Belfast and during the course of the cycle will visit two local primary schools every day and use the opportunity to educate the pupils about the dangers of fire in the home.

Their journey will take them to 68 fire stations across Northern Ireland.

Chief Fire Officer Peter Craig described it as a ‘hearty challenge’ for the firefighters to take on board. “It is also an excellent opportunity for the firefighters to engage with the community and to remind young people about the importance of having a working smoke alarm, a good fire safe bedtime routine and to ensure the pupils and their families have a planned fire escape route,” he said.

“I look forward to completing the final leg of the journey with them on Saturday, June 4.”

Noel said: “We’re looking forward to raising as much money as possible for NICHS as well as having opportunity to meet with young people along the way and share some life saving messages both in terms of fire safety and health promotion. We have been training hard and would encourage members of the public to come out and support us and NICHS.”

If you wish to support the FireFighters Station 2 Station Cycle you can make a £3 donation by texting the word ‘HEART’ to 70003, texts cost £3 plus the network charge and NI Chest Heart and Stroke will receive 100% of the text donation. Other ways of donating include through www.justgiving.com/station2station/