Cambs FRS: Firefighters make a splash for charity!

Let’s face it, washing the car is nobody’s favourite job. So why not take the hassle out of it and head down to your local fire station for the National Car Wash.

On Saturday (June 18) firefighters from Manea and Cottenham fire stations will be on hand to make your car sparkle. Your valued donations will go towards The Fire Fighters Charity who provide support and rehabilitation to the fire and rescue community.

Previous car wash events held earlier in the year in other parts of the county (for example Huntingdon, Cambridge, Stanground, Ely and St Ives) have raised more than £5,000 for the charity.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Strickland said: “The money raised through national fundraising initiatives provide a real boost to The Fire Fighters Charity. We are delighted that our fire stations get involved and urge local people to come along and support the day. Your valued donations will go towards helping thousands of people from the fire and rescue community during their times of need.”

Those visiting the car washes can also find out about how to join the station as an on-call firefighter to help their local communities.

Chief Fire Officer Strickland added: "Most stations around the county rely on members of their local community to crew fire engines and respond to emergencies. On-call firefighters respond to a wide range of incidents, such as rescuing people trapped in cars following a collision, to responding to a local house fire. They might even be called to rescue a pet in need, or assist with a medical emergency. Many will do the role alongside other employment or around family life. They may be at home, work, or out and about when they receive a pager alert and straight away they must jump into action and get ready to deal with any incident.

"We are always looking for enthusiastic people to join us, if they live or work within five minutes of their local fire station. Those coming to a car wash can speak to the crews and find out more about the exciting challenge, or alternatively they can visit our website."

The Fire Fighters Charity has been supporting the fire services community for 75 years. The Charity started by supporting bereaved families of firefighters killed during the Blitz and has now evolved into a modern-day service that provides life enhancing health and wellbeing support to the whole fire community.

The Fire Fighters Charity is here for every one of the UK’s serving and retired members of fire and rescue staff – and their families. No other organisation provides such a full package of health and wellbeing support, exactly tailored to the needs of firefighters.

Firmly established on the fire and rescue service calendar, the National Car Wash is the Charity's largest national fundraising event of the year. As well as being a fun and popular fundraising event, the Car Wash also gives firefighters the unique opportunity to share vital community safety advice with a large cross-section of their community.

Chief Executive of The Fire Fighters Charity, Dr Jill Tolfrey, said: “The National Car Wash provides a vital source of income for the Charity, as well as being a fun and popular event. It costs £8.5million a year to keep The Fire Fighters Charity running – and with no regular government funding, we rely completely on your donations and goodwill. You can show your support to our firefighting heroes by visiting your local fire station on Saturday 3 March – and afterwards drive away safely, in a clean car!"