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Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Team take on three peaks in memory of Blackburn firefighter who died of cancer
A group of firefighters took on the Three Peaks on Tuesday (May 20) in memory of a Blackburn firefighter who died of cancer. Members of Blackburn Fire Station's red watch took part in the Three Peaks Challenge, where they attempted to climb the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales, in 24 hours. This was in memory of Beccy Barr, a former firefighter and BBC presenter, who died last year aged 46. Beccy announced she had incurable abdominal cancer in December 2023. The team shared pictures of themselves at the top of Snowdon, Wales' highest peak, when they finished the challenge. They also shared a picture of themselves before they started climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, the UK's highest point and the start of the challenge. Blackburn firefighters before climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland (Image: LFRS) After scaling and descending the 1,345-metre tall Ben Nevis, the team drove to the Lake District to take on England's tallest mountain, the 978m high Scafell Pike, before soldiering on to Eryri National Park to summit the 1,085m Snowdon. At the time of writing, more than £1,200 has been raised for St John's Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes, which provides care to patients with life-limiting conditions throughout North Lancashire, the South Lakes and parts of North Yorkshire. Red Watch at Blackburn Fire Station climbed Mount Snowdon (Image: LFRS) A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Yesterday, members of our Red Watch at Blackburn Fire Station took part in the national three peaks 24-hour challenge in memory of Beccy Barr — a sadly missed member of the watch who was always positive and full of life.' Beccy Barr (Image: LFRS) Beccy joined the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in September 2019, after 20 years as a journalist, including seven with BBC's North West Tonight. She revealed at the time she was following in the footsteps of her father, Roy Barr, and after finishing her training was posted to Blackburn Fire Station. Beccy started her career at the Blackpool Citizen in her early 20s and had previously worked for Bloomberg News and CNB. To make a donation visit and search 'Red Watch Blackburn fundraising for St John's Hospice North Lancashire and South Lakes'.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
City charity races set to raise £300k
Sold-out charity races completed by about 6,600 people on Sunday are on course to raise £300,000. The Bidwells Oxford 10k and junior 3k races were organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK, which has organised the event since 1982. It was inspired by local boy Daniel Cleaver, who had muscular dystrophy and died aged 12 in 1990, and Sunday's edition was attended by local schools and other fundraising teams. They included about 180 pupils from Oxford's Summer Fields School who completed the 3k (1.8 miles) and Red Watch from the city's Rewley Road fire station who completed the 10k (6.2 miles) in full kit. The firefighters, who also carried a 50kg casualty training mannequin, raised over £1,100 for Muscular Dystrophy UK and the Fire Fighters Charity. The 10k race was started by Tristan Boedts, 28, who has limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) and completed it last year. He completed Sunday's course in about two and a half hours, accompanied by family and friends. "This is a true community event, and we're delighted that it continues to grow, selling out in advance for a second year running," Jessie Keighley, Muscular Dystrophy UK's events manager, said. "The money raised will make a huge difference, helping us to continue funding ground-breaking research and supporting those living with muscle wasting and weakening conditions." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Student to start city's charity 10k race Charity veterans to start city's 10k race Muscular Dystrophy UK
