A team of five will each cycle the equivalent of the height of Mount Everest in April 2023 in aid of us – and as a thank you to the firefighters that helped rescue their friend following a road traffic collision.

The group are all members of Blue Light Cycling Club, the UK’s largest cycling club dedicated to emergency services.

The club launched in 2021 and in its first year alone, it donated £2,000 to us following a number of challenges and events. In total, it’s donated £5,400 in 18 months – an incredible amount.

This time, Neil Turner, the club’s founder, will be joined by Ali Worton, Eduardo Gomes, Paul Baker and Chris Beasley for the epic cycle challenge – covering the equivalent of 8,848 vertical metres each on static bikes.

The team will take on the challenge on Thursday, 13 April, on cycling app, Zwift, at the Henley offices of the club’s main sponsor, Wills and Trusts Wealth Management. You’ll be able to watch their progress on Zwift from 6am.

And they have a particularly powerful reason for taking it on.

“Our event wishes to acknowledge Kent Fire & Rescue Service after a serious incident last year involving one of our members,” says Neil.

“Club member Charlotte Lawson was the victim of a significant accident whilst minding her own business on her trusted Brompton in Kent. She was hit with such force that she was sent into a nearby stream with the car rolling and landing on top of her.

“Fire crews from Strood, Thames-side, Chatham and Rochester attended and rescued Charlotte before colleagues from Kent Police, Kent Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance dealt with the incident and transferred Charlotte to King’s Hospital in south London.

“To show our admiration and thanks the five riders will push themselves to the limits of their capabilities to show the strength of feeling the club has for their efforts and that of the fire service in general.”

Using the virtual world’s Alpe d’Huez, the riders will seek to climb the mountain eight and a half times each to achieve their individual goal.

Lisa Courtney, Community Fundraiser at The Fire Fighters Charity, says: “This is a fantastic challenge and we’re incredibly grateful to the five members of Blue Light Cycling Club who are taking part, particularly given their personal reason for doing so.

“We wish all of you the best of luck for the day and will be watching you every step of the way. Every pound raised and donated to us will make a lasting difference to members of our fire services community – just like those firefighters who helped Charlotte. Thank you to all of you for your support.”

While this challenge is solely in aid of us, we are one of five nominated charities that the club supports all year round. The other charities are Care of Police Survivors (COPS), Help for Heroes, NHS Charities Together and The Coastguard Association