“Working non-operational, I always felt someone else needed help more than me”
Gary Williams has spent years supporting others. As NFCC National Fire Cadet Co-ordinator, he’s been a listening ear to thousands of fire cadets across the UK, helping them through challenges and building confidence and lasting connections.
Yet when his own family faced a difficult time, he didn’t immediately think our support was for him. As someone in a non-operational role, he believed others needed it more.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
After receiving support at our centres, Gary saw first-hand that our help is here for everyone in our fire services community, without judgement, always. Now, he’s using his own experience to encourage others to seek help when they need it, while fundraising to ensure more members of the fire services community can access the same support.
“I’ve spent years in youth work – including a few years with Derbyshire FRS,” says Gary. “It’s such a privilege to be someone that cadets feel they can talk to.
“There would be more young people getting trapped in houses, more getting into dangerous water situations and road situations without us. That’s our role, to stop fires before they start – all by engaging with young people.”
Gary has spent years encouraging the cadets and cadet leaders he supports to plan fundraisers in aid of Fire Fighters Charity. However, he only reached out for our support himself in more recent years.
“As a non-operational person, I always felt that someone else needed it more than me,” Gary admits. “It’s very easy to put yourself second, but it’s about realising that we’re part of that network too – not just with the charity, but in the Fire and Rescue Service.
“I first got in touch during Covid when my wife had to have some major surgery in London. It meant she’d be away from home for eight weeks, and it felt very daunting. Hearing Fire Fighters Charity say it was there for us if we need it, really opened my eyes to what’s available. Sometimes, it’s just knowing it’s there.
“People don’t want to be a burden, or trouble anyone else with their problems by reaching out. But actually, that just makes your problem so much bigger.”
Gary got in touch later, when he saw we were running a Kickstart Programme at Jubilee House. Kickstart aims to help people boost their overall lifestyle, nutrition and fitness.
“It was amazing,” he says. “It was so person-centred, you feel so looked after. I wanted to make sure I had my fitness in the best place possible, so I could be there for my family.”
That programme prompted Gary to restart what’s now known as the ‘999 Challenge’. In addition to supporting their local car wash fundraisers, the aim was for Fire Cadets to take on a collective challenge every year in aid of Fire Fighters Charity – whether it’s walking, climbing, running or anything else they want to try.
Gary never forgot how supportive the staff were at Jubilee House – so much so, he knew to call us again more recently when his teenage daughter, Hannah, had a kidney transplant.
“When she had the surgery and in the aftermath of that, it got really challenging,” he says. “You have to dig deep and carry on to be there for your family, but I got to the point where I found it really difficult and I knew it was the time to ask for help. If something within is telling you you’re struggling, you are, and you need to listen to that. And all it takes is a phone call.
“Fire Fighters Charity’s staff are so skilled at making you feel comfortable, and it becomes a very easy process.”
The family was invited to Harcombe House for a Rest and Recharge stay, and Gary says the flexibility of it “took all the pressure away”.
“The centre is outstanding, and it’s such a beautiful setting. It’s a long drive, but so worthwhile,” he says. “It’s such a different environment, so relaxed, and the accommodation is amazing. It was truly a break for all of us.”
Keen to give back, alongside the cadets challenges he’s already organised, Gary took on his own 999 Challenge. – He was all set to cycle 99 miles, visiting nine fire stations, all in nine hours.
“What I didn’t fully think through was: I hadn’t been on a bike in over 10 years, I’d never cycled that distance before, I’m narcoleptic and I only had about six weeks to train. But once I’d committed, that was it, I was going to give it a go,” says Gary.
“At some point, I knew I wasn’t going to hit 99 miles in the time I had set myself, so I reset my goal: just keep going as far as I could. After 16 hours, 92 miles, and a lot of determination, I managed to visit all nine stations, but finally had to stop.
“I hadn’t quite hit the numbers I set out with, but honestly, I was proud of what I’d managed to do. The biggest achievement wasn’t the miles, though. Thanks all those who supported me as together, we raised £977.48 for Fire Fighters Charity.
“This experience has shown me that you don’t have to be super fit or experienced to take on a challenge like this. You just need a reason, a bit of determination, and the willingness to give it a go.”
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