Axminster firefighters capture hearts of community in sponsored walk for Idris

A group of Axminster firefighters successfully completed a 160-mile sponsored walk over the weekend, raising more than £8,000 for specialist treatment for one of the crew's children.

The walk was organised by firefighters Dan Goetz and Paul Shillingford in support of their colleague Josh Moore, his fiancé Sammy and their young son Idris.

Idris was born at 30 weeks and, due to the trauma of the birth, suffered damage to his brain which has been diagnosed as cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia. 

Idris is unable to stand unaided, walk or transition from different levels on his own. 

Josh and Sammy aim is to work on building his leg strength so that he gains the skills to eventually be able to use a walking aid. In order to make this aim a reality, Idris needs specialist equipment and additional physiotherapy sessions.

The crew set out to raise £1,600 on their sponsored walk, but the total currently stands at £8,400 after capturing the hearts of the local community.

A group of firefighters from the Axminster station completed their 160-mile walk over the weekend, from one end of the Devon and Somerset Fire& Rescue Service area to the other – starting at the most southern station in the region to the most northern and stopping at 20 stations along the way – and all while wearing fire kit and breathing apparatus. 

Over four days, they visited the stations at Camels Head, Greenbank, Plymstock, Plympton, Ivybridge, Totnes, Paignton, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Middlemoor, Clyst St George, Sidmouth, Seaton, Colyton, Axminster, Chard, Ilminster, Martock, Somerton, Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Shepton Mallet and finished at Frome.

After completing the challenge, the Axminster fire station team said: "A massive thank you goes to you for the donations, support, comments and motivation we needed to complete this challenge. 

"We have raised so much more than we expected and thats down to you for you amazing donations. Thank you again."

Donations can still be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/page/walkforidris