Chris: “When I was in the job, I was serving the public. Now I want to help others in the fire services community”
Turning 65 looks different for everyone. For some, it’s about celebrating with family and friends. For others, it’s a chance to plan new adventures or settle into retirement.
For Chris, it was the motivation he needed to finally take on a life-long dream: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Chris spent 32 years with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, starting as a firefighter and retiring as an Assistant Divisional Officer. Alongside his career, he dedicated years to supporting both the fire services community and Fire Fighters Charity, including as a Trustee.
Now, he’s preparing for his biggest fundraising challenge yet. In February 2027, he’ll take on Africa’s highest mountain, aiming to raise £5,895 in donations, matching the mountain’s height in metres.
“I first heard about Fire Fighters Charity in 1982,” he says. “When I joined in April ’82, I immediately got involved in fundraising as a Station Rep, and it grew from there.
“Being involved in the charity has been one of the best things in my life.”
Over the years, Chris helped countless people access support. Eventually, he found himself needing some help too after suffering a back injury, followed by a broken knee.
“I got in touch with the charity and shared what had been happening. They took the time to listen and suggest support that would suit me. I was invited to Jubilee House for some rehab from there, as well as Harcombe House later on for a break,” he says. “It had a huge impact and, for me, the key part of it was the shared experience.”
One encounter stayed with him, in particular:
“I remember being in the pool and meeting a lady there that was actually married to a firefighter and had suffered a horrific injury. Despite what she’d been through, she was completely immersed, not just in the programme, but with the people around her.
“It really highlighted what it means when we talk about the fire family.
“It struck me that that is exactly what it was. To meet someone who’d been through something so awful, but was still able to go there, experience the treatment, the camaraderie, the love, the care. That one really did strike me massively.”
Chris’ experience also showed him first-hand how many people are supported every day, from those recovering from serious injuries to people living with mental health challenges.
“The Fire and Rescue Service and the charity have given me so much, it’s only right to continue to help where I can.”
Chris
“The charity is there for such a wide range of people,” he says. “I was able to see that through my visits.
“I went back home after every visit feeling energised. And I think that’s one of the things that’s probably kept me on the straight and narrow for the last 40 plus years in life generally, is having the fire service, the charity and the connectivity between them – a feeling that I’m actually doing some good for the world.
“The Fire and Rescue Service and the charity have given me so much, it’s only right to continue to help where I can. When I was in the job, I was mainly serving the public. Now that I’m out of that particular job, I don’t see it as stopping… I now want to help the people that are still in there helping the public. The charity keeps people healthy and well, and that’s what I want.”
Chris will take on his challenge in February 2027 and hopes to break his fundraising target along the way. He says: “I was 65 this year, and I thought if I’m going to do it, I need to do it now. It’s been a long-term ambition, and I’m incredibly excited.”
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