Six people stand in front of a fire engine inside a garage; four wear high-visibility cycling gear and helmets with their bikes, while two in the center wear casual clothes.

Devon firefighters raise thousands by cycling to Benidorm in fire kit

The team battled the heat to complete the huge challenge - raising more than £6,800 for us.

A courageous team of Devon firefighters cycled to Benidorm in fire kit — raising thousands of pounds for us.

The team, made up of three on-call firefighters from Chagford Fire Station, one from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service HQ, and a dedicated family member riding as Blaze Bear set off on Sunday, 25 May.

A group of six men, some in matching red cycling jerseys and shorts, pose and smile outside a beachside bar on a sunny day. Tall buildings and people relaxing are visible in the background.

After taking a ferry to Spain, they pedalled through mountainous terrain and soaring temperatures — reaching Benidorm in just three days. They had previously cycled the ferry journey distance across local areas.

Incredibly, the team has raised over £6,800 through their fundraising efforts.

A person in a bear costume wearing a firefighter jacket and helmet stands between two red fire trucks outside a fire station on a sunny day.

Firefighter Mark Shears helped organise the challenge and says raising funds for us has been close to all of their hearts:

“We knew if it was going to be tough cycling 800 miles in full fire kit, on unknown roads in the hot sun, and it certainly was!

“Sheer determination and support from each other got us here and we are really proud to have completed this challenge for Fire Fighters Charity. Massive thank you for everyone’s donations and words of support over the last few days. We are hot, sweaty and slightly broken so looking forward to a few days recovery in Benidorm.

“Please continue to support us in raising awareness and as much money as possible for Fire Fighters Charity, it means so much to all of us.”

Several police officers on bicycles ride along a sunny promenade lined with palm trees and tall buildings, with people walking nearby and a beach visible to the right. Text reads, "Arrived in Benidorm!!.

Natalie Searle, Regional Fundraiser at Fire Fighters Charity, says:

“I’ve watched this incredible team work towards this challenge for several months now and their determination – and passion for fundraising and spreading the word about our support – has been inspiring.

“Challenges like this make such a huge difference. The team has raised thousands of pounds through their fundraising efforts, all of which will help us continue to provide our care and support to the fire services community.”

Four cyclists in high-visibility jackets and helmets pose for a selfie on a sunny street lined with palm trees, with mountains visible in the background.

Every mile these firefighters covered has helped raise life-changing funds – and you can help still too. Support them by clicking HERE.