Rotherham's fantastic five in line-up for charity challenge

FIVE female firefighters from Rotherham stations are bidding to complete an arduous charity run double in an effort to raise £1,000 for charity.

They are part of a seven-strong team of female firefighters from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue who are hoping to complete the challenge of running two charity races wearing full fire kit and breathing apparatus this weekend.

Former Olympian turned firefighter Angie Thorp has already been joined by colleagues Fleur Doyle and Sally Stark from Dearne Fire Station, Sarah McCarthy from Aston Park Fire Station and Franca Salerno from Maltby Fire Station for Doncaster’s Race for Life and they are now bidding to repeat the feat in Sheffield on Sunday.

The fund-raising firefighters are completing the feat to reach a £1,000 target for Cancer Research UK and have already raised £800.

Firefighter Angie Thorp, who represented Great Britain at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, said: “It might sound strange but competing in the 100 metre hurdles at the Olympics was much easier than running 5km wearing 20 kg of fire kit.

“It wasn’t so much the weight that was difficult to cope with, it was more the heat, but we all got round OK.

“We’ve actually been training in the gym on treadmills wearing our fire kit so I think that helped.

“We’re raring to go for Sunday and hopefully we can reach our fund-raising target.”

Anyone wanting to sponsor the team should visit www.justgiving.com/AngieThorp.