It’s a new year and you’ve welcomed it with some new and exciting challenges and fundraising events.
We kicked off our Bag It and Bank It campaign, with stations right across the UK encouraging their communities to donate their unwanted clothing, while more of you have climbed, rowed and ran your hearts out in aid of us.
Just one challenge saw firefighters Wolstanholme, Mallandaine, Tozer and Bailey from Torquay Fire Station in Devon take on the “Fan Dance”, a gruelling 24km SAS Selection test march staged over Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons.
The infamous march is the world’s oldest Special Forces test and is used as the first major indicator of whether a candidate has the physical and mental aptitude to complete the legendary Selection course.
The group raised over £2,710 – an incredible effort.
Below are just a few more highlights, as well as quotes from regular donors…
And don’t forget, you can share your amazing fundraising achievements, encourage others and share ideas on MyFFC. We have a series of dedicated groups you can join. Just register now and head to the ‘Groups’ tab at the top of the MyFFC homepage.
Our #BagItandBankIt competition returns today! ♻️
This month, we're encouraging fire stations to collect as much clothing as they can for us. And we're calling on our amazing supporters to donate their unwanted clothes.
Find your nearest clothing bank 👉 https://t.co/WUvzmrVlNe pic.twitter.com/iTOvKOQoTT
— The Fire Fighters Charity (@firefighters999) January 1, 2023
We would like to say thank you to the person who made the anonymous donation of £200 at Peaks Lane Fire Station for @firefighters999 . This incredible generosity will help the Charity support all fire service staff, including those who have retired.❤️🚒 pic.twitter.com/veNV2zgpZ1
— Humberside Fire & Rescue (@HumbersideFire) January 18, 2023
“Firefighters do a good job and they don’t really get supported much so I thought I would support them”
Regular donor
Six months ago, William was seriously injured whilst playing football.
Our on call Co-Responder was first on scene and this has inspired him to use his recovery to fundraise for the @firefighters999
More on this on our FB page soon…https://t.co/Cgw4tXcHGf
— Hartley Wintney Fire Station💙 (@HartleyWintney8) January 7, 2023
Red January day 31 and Red January done mate @graeme_binning. We reached a combined total of 277 miles. We have raised over £600 and counting for the @firefighters999.
Both fitter, stronger and healthier in body and mind.
Well done to @graeme_binning he’s smashed it 👍🏻🏃 pic.twitter.com/8AH9JabjWP— Joe Haustead (@joe_haustead) January 31, 2023
Here’s a great #ThrowbackThursday to remind us of all the fundraising fun we’ve had throughout 2022 to raise funds for The Firefighters Charity.
A big thank you to everyone who has donated along the way. Same again next year? 💪 pic.twitter.com/p0zb9ZkFLH
— ClevelandFB (@ClevelandFB) December 29, 2022
“You need them. You never know when your house is going to be on fire or your car is going to blow up or you’ll be involved in an accident.”
Regular donor
Lisa, Helen and Alex (Cleveland Climbers) are fundraising for The Fire Fighters Charity. Check out their @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! #JustGiving https://t.co/MdUZh1erkd
— Lisa Howsden (@LisaHowsden) January 4, 2023
A huge thank you to Mark Milward From Active Fitness who chose The Fire Fighters charity to donate his recent fund raising to. He presented the cheque to the crew last night on drill. @ActFitCheshire @firefighters999 pic.twitter.com/OAZitFRN5Y
— Holmes Chapel Fire Station (@HChapelFS) January 5, 2023
180,000 tonnes🤯👏
That is how much was donated to clothing banks at our fire stations in the last 5 years.
We have 13 banks that have raised an amazing £34,000 for @firefighters999.
Got any old clothing? Why not bag it and bin it! Find out more 👉https://t.co/m8vkddwW78 pic.twitter.com/66Rim3hSXh
— Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (@Tyne_Wear_FRS) January 6, 2023
“Firefighters came out last night as we had a child locked in a room and couldn’t open it.”
One-off donor
BRAND NEW @firefighters999 Obble Hats! 🧡
Helping to support and raise awareness of this amazing charity, whilst keeping you warm this winter. ❄️
GRAB YOURS – https://t.co/IM7A4ama0Z pic.twitter.com/83KXFcLgZJ
— OddBalls (@myoddballs) January 9, 2023
With my annual Christmas craft fair over, the total money raised for the British Heart Foundation (in memory of my Mum), was £653.
A further £1062 was raised for the Firefighters Charity, and £420 for Ukraine. THANK YOU all who supported! 💰
2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ total = £2135! pic.twitter.com/m3U4UbATIO— Helen Rea (@helenamelia77) January 9, 2023
“Firefighters give their lives and it is a shame they are not being supported enough.”
Regular donor
This week…
Our Vets side travel to Wrexham to face @NorthWalesFire in the @fssaafootball British cup Quarter final
📅 Thursday 19th January
🆚 @NorthWalesFire
⏰ 14:00pm kick off
🏟 @FAWales
📍 Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8PW
🏆@fssaafootball @WalkandTalk999 @firefighters999 pic.twitter.com/G1sCtxup3l— London Fire Brigade Football Club (@LFBfootballteam) January 16, 2023
Another training walk completed for our @firefighters999 #3peaks challenge. starting off at Seaford, Sussex for a 20km trek, this walk had it all; hills, sea, mud & floods!
Still time to help me top my target, if you can, or if not please share the link. https://t.co/aChNqfYbLS pic.twitter.com/QSueP0tLs6— Dave Smith (@DaveS_FireCtrl) January 16, 2023
“As a charity you do a great job.”
Regular donor
Firefighters at DSFRS are taking on the grueling 24km SAS Selection test this Saturday in Wales. They have been training extremely hard for this event and have raised an amazing £2,333 for The Fire Fighters Charity so far!
Info: 👉https://t.co/2pzYXCfSpf pic.twitter.com/pETFpFi29k— Wolsty (@RWolstanholme) January 20, 2023
Tomorrow will mark 50 days at sea for our dynamic duo, and safe to say the fact that land is still so far away is hard to accept, especially since another milestone was missed over the weekend. For Stu, it was his twins' 2nd birthday…
— Minds Matter: Atlantic Rowing Challenge Team (@mindsmatterarc) January 30, 2023
We did it!
Special forces selection phase, Fan Dance 🏴 24km, 40lbs Bergen.
£2710 raised so far for the firefighter charity. To make a donation please use this link 👉 https://t.co/xlvTh3oc2l pic.twitter.com/nNye4MqBkd— Wolsty (@RWolstanholme) January 23, 2023
We're proud to offer our new West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service charity umbrellas for sale! The umbrellas are available to purchase from our website and a donation will be made to The Fire Fighters Charity for each sale. Order your umbrella at https://t.co/9qJAIz5ILR pic.twitter.com/VhQ39mnP7N
— West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (@WestSussexFire) January 24, 2023
Another tremendous effort from all at Paisley Fire Station for such a worthwhile cause, well worth a couple of £ if you can spare it. 203 climbs in an hour @firefighters999 https://t.co/Otha8toNTh pic.twitter.com/6nglQWccKZ
— Ian Sim (@_IanSim) January 27, 2023
A massive thank you from me to everyone who bought a Fire Appliances of Britain 2023 Calendar!
With the last calendar now posted I have totalled up the profits to an amazing £179.36, which has been donated to The Firefighters Charity @firefighters999! pic.twitter.com/YT2RWe9nAY— FirePhotographer05 (@FPhotographer05) January 29, 2023
“I had a visit from the fire service and wished to contribute.”
One-off donor
Super proud of our fire cadets at #LeightonBuzzard. They have collected a whopping 796kg of clothing for the ‘Bag it and Bank it’ challenge this year! Great effort for a great cause 👩🚒. @firefighters999 @BedsFire @Beds_FireCtrl @LeightonBuzzSoc pic.twitter.com/1dbklK5XrF
— Liam Smith (@FF_LiamSmith) January 30, 2023
