Thursday 29 July
11.30hrs
A Yate youngster has spurred two firefighters to get on their
bikes for a 103-mile charity cycle ride next month.
Firefighters Jan Morris and Di Clack will set out on the Devon
Coast to Coast cycle route from Ilfracombe to Plymouth on Sunday 8
August.
The duo will be raising funds for the British Heart Foundation and
The Fire Fighters Charity.
Jan, who was previously a firefighter at Yate and is now Station
Manager of Thornbury Fire Station, has taken part in previous
fundraising activities for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
For this challenge she enlisted the help of friend Di, a
firefighter from Red Watch Yate.
Di, who is no stranger to charity fundraising challenges, jumped at
the chance to help her friend.
Jan became aware of the work of the BHF after her niece was
diagnosed with Right Heart Syndrome, a condition which meant a
significant part of her heart was missing at birth.
Jan’s niece, five-year old Rebecca Williams from Yate, has endured
three open heart surgeries since she was born, including one when
she was just one week old. At one stage her parents were told it
was touch and go whether she would survive. Due to the nature
of her condition Rebecca will need a heart transplant when she is
older.
Jan said: “If it wasn’t for the research work of the BHF over the
past decade, children like Rebecca just would not survive, and my
family cannot imagine life without her, she’s such a happy
child.
“Heart disease is unfortunately something that has or will affect a
lot of people, either directly or indirectly, so the work of the
charity is invaluable to all.
“Di and I also chose to support The Fire Fighters Charity as we
believe that the facilities available to all members of the fire
and rescue service and their families are second to none, and we
hope they can continue to provide these long into the
future.
“Training has been a bit sporadic but we are up for the challenge
and looking forward to it!”
To sponsor Jan and Di’s fundraising efforts for the British Heart
Foundation visit www.justgiving.com/DevonCoasttoCoast2010.
To sponsor their efforts for The Fire Fighters Charity visit
www.justgiving.com/DevonCoasttoCoastFirefightersCharity