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In Febuary 2020  my wifes brother Fire fighter Andy Moore took his own life at Wolverhampto fire station where he had been on duty on a night shift with his colleagues from red Watch.

Andy had joined North Yorkshire fire and Rescue service in September 1993 and had transfered to West Midlands Fire service in may 1996.
 A dedicated Fire fighter Andy was a natural athlete who had suffered a long battle with depression and poor mental health. In the fight to balance his mental health Andy would challenge himself mentaly and physically by taking on extreme challenges.

A keen cyclist Andy competed for many years in time trials. In later years in a constant drive to challenge himself he took up triathlons. An ex service man ( he joined the junior leaders at 16 and the Royal Engineers at 17) he competed and won his veteran catagory in the tough SAS Fan dance challenge, A gruelling 24km march over the highest mountains in the Brecon Beacons. He competed in the Devizes to westminster canoe race ( 3 times)- the longest non stop canoe race in the world, 125 miles long including numerous locks, arduous paddling and a considerable amount of running( whilst carrying your canoe)In 2018 he completed the National 3 peaks cycling challenge. Climbing the 3 highest peaks in the UK and then cycling between them- non stop. He completed this in an impressive 48 hours. As many a brother or work college will tell you if you hung around with him too long he would rope you into one of his mad cap schemes. 

Andy was 50 on 23rd january 2020 and to celebrate he challenged himself to learn another skill - learning to ski. He went off with his best buddy ( and fellow firefighter) in a camper van road trip down to the french Alps and within 3 days was skiing like a pro, on returning from this trip he had come up with his next idea and started to plan his next challenge to go skiing on a pair of old wooden ski's!.

Andy was a naturally quiet and shy man with a wicked sense of humour, an amazing mimick and a quick and sharp witt. He was also very creative and his last summer he had built a summer house from old window frames and wooden pallets. I didnt know Andy long but the last time i saw him he was going through the skip on my drive seeing what he could salvage.

 Inspired by Andy and a desire to highlight the importance of understanding mental health in 2021 I under took my first extreme physical challange. The Andy Moore memorial 6 peaks challenge. this involved climbing the 3 highest Peaks in the UK and  cycling between each, then climbing them all again the next day in the national 3 peaks 24 hour challenge. I raised £5000 for the mental health charity MIND. Last year I completed the  Lake District 11 peak ultra Marathon  and  raised funds for the fire fighters charity- this chartity provides many people like Andy with the help and support they needed to manage their mental health. This will be my 3rd Year under taking a personal challenge  and I have the honour of running the London Marathon for the fire fighters charity in memory of Andy. They provide specialist lifelong support for members of the UKs fire services community, empowering individuals to achieve mental, physical and social wellbeing throughout their lives.