Fintona firefighters taking on marathon challenge this weekend

NINE firefighters from Fintona Fire Station will be raising money for the Air Ambulance by taking part in this weekend’s Belfast Marathon.

Two relay teams are entered, including an all-female team who will be running their leg of the 26.2-mile challenge in full firefighting kit.

Each firefighter will complete a section of the marathon, lacing up their running shoes to support a service they see saving lives regularly. As frontline responders, they know how vital the Air Ambulance is for delivering time-critical care – often the difference between life and death.

Their goal is to raise £6,850, the amount it costs to keep the Air Ambulance operational for just one day.

Those taking part are Sean Loane, Lucy McDermott, Karen Gorman, Shauna McGirr, Meabh McConnell, Ellen Cunningham, Lee McConnell, Sean Guest, and Oliver Donnelly.

Firefighter Lucy McDermott said the event was the perfect team-building opportunity.

“We wanted a bonding day to welcome our new recruits, and what better way to enhance our ongoing training than taking on the Belfast Marathon,” she said.

“We have two teams – five males and five females. To make it more challenging, the female team will run in our fire kit. We chose Air Ambulance as our main sponsor because we work so closely with them and truly value the service they provide.”

The run also highlights the station’s growing diversity, with five female firefighters now serving in Fintona – a high number for a station of its size.

“Fintona station opened in 1988, and it was only five years ago that the first three female firefighters were recruited. This year, we’ve added three more firefighters, two of whom are women,” said Lucy.

“To have five female crew members now makes Fintona one of the most gender-diverse fire stations in the North.”

To support the team’s fundraiser, visit eventmaster.ie and search ‘Fintona Firefighters’.