In May 2020, Chief Fire Officer, Rick Taylor welcomed thirteen new Firefighter recruits into Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and invited them to take on the Chief's Challenge. This is a unique opportunity to embark upon a physical challenge to raise vital funds for meaningful charities and engage with the communities in which they will serve. The recruits designed the challenge themselves, and here's what they have to say about it:

"On Saturday 25th of July, we will walk approximately 20miles in fire kit to raise funds for the Fire Fighter's Charity and Mind. Split into two crews, we will walk from the most easterly station in the county, Oakham, and the most westerly station in Ashby-de-la-Zouche, into Leicester city to "Meet In The Middle" at the illustrious Central Fire Station. The formation of the challenge signifies teamwork and pulling together to overcome any physical and mental challenges that may be presented to you, and in doing so, reach a common goal. We are under no illusion that the walk in hot conditions, wearing heavy fire kit, will be a huge test of our physical and mental resilience... also of our ability to stick together and work as a team!

We have chosen to support the incredible Fire Fighters Charity because of the excellent work they do to support serving and veteran Firefighters (and their families) through difficult times. This could be due to injury, disability, bereavement, mental health - sorts of unexpected and difficult circumstances. We are also supporting the amazing mental health charity, Mind, and in doing so hope to promote reaching out and asking for help when people face difficulties with their mental health. It's a cause close to all of us, either because we know and care for people who are currently struggling with their mental health or we have sadly lost friends or family through suicide. As Firefighters, due to the nature of our work, it is also very possible that we may need to utilize the incredible services that Mind provides one day ourselves, and therefore want to help secure the future of the organisation.

Please click the "Donate to a team" button and choose the charity that you'd like to support. It would be great to keep the donation totals for each charity relatively equal.

Keep an eye out on the Leicestershire Fire & Rescue social media pages below for updates & thank you in advance for your generous donations! www.twitter.com/LeicsFireRescue and www.facebook.com/LeicsFireRescue

LFRS Firefighter Recruits, 2020"