A group of Axminster firefighters walked 160 miles in full kit to raise money for a colleague’s son, who has cerebral palsy.
They initially hoped to raise £1,600 towards specialist equipment and physiotherapy for Josh Moore’s son Idris, but ended up with £9,000.
The team said they were ‘overwhelmed’ and ‘astounded’ by the reactions they received as they trekked from Plymouth to Frome – the extreme ends of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue’s operating area – calling at fire stations along the way.
At each stopping point they were welcomed by supporters who donated to the cause and walked with them for part of the way.
They set off from Plymouth on Thursday, July 6 and reached Exeter the following day, buoyed up by support from the fire stations they visited en route, and the Exeter Chiefs.
On July 8 they were back on their home patch, visiting the fire stations at Sidmouth, Seaton, Colyton, Axminster and Chard. They were supported by the Beer Coastguard Rescue Team and the organisers of the Yarty Party, who invited them to come along and celebrate at the festival the following weekend.
The final day, July 9, took them through Somerset to the finishing point at Frome fire station, where a welcoming committee celebrated their achievement.
The initiative began when firefighters Dan Goetz and Paul Shillingford came into drill one night and told their colleagues they were organising a walk to raise money for Idris, the son of Josh Moore and Sammy Barry.
Idris had been born at 30 weeks and, because of the trauma of the birth, he suffered brain damage that was diagnosed as cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia.
He is unable to stand or walk without support, and needs special equipment and physiotherapy to build up his leg strength so that he can eventually use a walking aid.
During their four-day hike Dan and Paul were supported by Kierran Bearpark, Russell Bebb, Jade Brooker, Lee Brooker, Phillip Garrett, Ian Turner , Matt Chenery, Tarryn Shillingford, Georgina Roach, Chloe Sansom and Jess Bebb, along with other firefighters who walked with them along sections of the route near their stations.
After completing the walk, the team posted a message of thanks to all those who had donated, saying: “When Dan and Paul were planning the walk they thought £1,600 was going to be a struggle. But you have proven us wrong.”
They have also thanked the Chard businesses Mugged Off and The Graphics Factory for providing printed T-shirts and boards, JB Wheaton for providing water, and the Seaton and Chard branches of Tesco for supplying water and snacks.
To donate to the Independence for Idris fundraiser, visit their JustGiving page.
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