Date: 16th August, 2021
A team from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be tackling next month’s Bristol Half Marathon in full fire kit, in memory of a colleague who died of cancer.
Nine firefighters and two friends will be running to raise money for DKMS, the blood cancer charity, after Guy Tadman – who served at Trowbridge fire station for 22 years – lost his fight with acute myeloid leukaemia in April.
Those taking part in fire kit are Watch Manager Steve Taylor and Crew Manager Larson Taylor, both from Trowbridge; Crew Manager Mike Cleaver, from Devizes; Watch Manager Jason Nightingale, who works at the Devizes Training Centre; Crew Manager Dan Fry and Firefighter Jake Brown, both based at Swindon fire station; Firefighter Alex Hardisty, from Salisbury fire station; Firefighter Jason Sandy, an on-call firefighter at both Trowbridge and Warminster; and Rick Lavens, a retired firefighter from Devizes.
Watch Manager Josh Wyer, who works at the Devizes Training Centre, and friend Rob Maddocks will also run the race as support crew, carrying water for the rest of the team.
Steve Taylor has organised the challenge, having worked closely with Guy for many years. He said: “When Guy was ill, so many people wanted to do something to support him or the charities which he and his family could turn to for help. He was incredibly proud of being a firefighter, so it seemed appropriate to do something in fire kit. A few of us have done similar challenges in the past, so we know how tough it will be, but we just want to raise as much money and awareness as we can.”
The kit that the team will wear for the race on Sunday 19 September will be helmet, tunic, leggings and breathing apparatus cylinder – weighing approx. 20kg.
To support the team in their fundraising, please visit www.justgiving.com/team/Tadders