Find out how The Fire Fighters Charity has supported beneficiaries across the UK and how you can share your story with the fire community. Click categories or regions below to filter the list of stories.
John McCulloch has struggled with his mental health and traumatic memories ever since having a stroke, but he says he and his partner – who’s been his carer – have been supported by the Charity throughout. Maureen Allen has been caring for her retired firefighter husband Clive for two years following a major stroke. Here, she reveals how the Charity has supported both of them through some of their most difficult times. When Owen Spiers managed to overcome 20 years of addiction, he thought he’d finally beaten his demons. However, his mental health later hit rock bottom and he says the Charity was a major lifeline. When Will Parkinson was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, it sparked more than a decade of chronic pain. However, he says the support the Charity offered him has inspired a whole new life project to say thank you. When Derbyshire firefighter Chris Cotton suffered a sports injury, he says the Charity provided him with the support he desperately needed to get his life back on track. Then, years later, we were able to help his wife too.
John: “I thought I’d tucked it to the back of my mind, but it was all coming back”
Maureen: “I don’t think of myself as a carer, I’m his wife, that’s what I’d do”
Owen: “It’s a safety net when you feel you’re going to step off the tight rope”
Will: “My illness wasn’t fire-related, but you still supported me 110%”
Chris: “To be able to have that support on hand is just invaluable”
