Two firefighters have completed an extraordinary 420-mile challenge across North Yorkshire, raising more than £8,000 for two life-changing causes.
North Yorkshire firefighter Jay Taylor and Tyne and Wear firefighter Robyn Foster have finished the 420-mile FireCallRun, an ambitious mission to run to every fire station in North Yorkshire over the course of 14 gruelling days.
The funds raised will go to The Firefighters Charity and VTRN Reset, two vital organisations that hold personal significance for booth Jay and Robyn.
Beginning at Richmond Fire Station, Jay’s home base, on Sunday 18th May, Jay and Robyn set out, covering an average of 30 miles a day.
Their journey took them through towns and villages across the county, with key stops in Northallerton, Scarborough, York, Skipton, Harrogate, and Whitby before their final steps brought them full circle.
The challenge wasn’t without its hardships. “I’m completely fatigued,” said Robyn. “We didn’t realise how big a challenge it was going to be. We knew it was going to be tough, but it was mammoth.
“We both suffered injuries to the tendons in the front of our feet from so much running, so we had to swallow our pride a bit and get on the bike—which was just as hard with all the hills we encountered going through the Dales.”
Jay added, “I don’t think I’ll be doing any running for the next few weeks!”
Throughout their journey, Jay and Robyn were showered with “unbelievable support” from local schools, fellow firefighters, and members of the public.
Fire Chief, Jonathan Dyson, joined for a leg of the journey, from Lythe to Whitby, alongside firefighters from various stations who joined in for parts of the route.
“We have to say a massive thank you to the support team, mostly made up from Richmond Fire Station, and our partners. We didn’t have to do any thinking for ourselves — we just had to run. They were absolutely fantastic,” Jay said.
The motivation behind the FireCallRun was clear to both Jay and Robyn, to raise both funds and awareness for two important causes close to their hearts.
“The Firefighters Charity provides vital support to colleagues and friends facing physical and mental health challenges, even helping one friend create precious family memories during terminal illness,” said Jay.
“As a veteran of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, I’ve seen the struggles many face when leaving the military. VTRN Reset is doing incredible work to address this, and I’m proud to support their efforts.”
With over £8,000 already raised, the fundraising page will remain open for a couple more weeks in the hopes of reaching their £10,000 target.
“We’re so happy with what we’ve raised,” said Robyn, “but we’d love to push on and hit that big milestone!”
The pair are already discussing ideas for another challenge, so watch this space…
You can still support Jay and Robyn’s effort through their JustGiving page.
