COG-RATULATIONS! This was the message to fire service senior management who took on an epic cycle ride for charity and raised more than £2,000.
Members of the Chief Officers Group – known as COG – cycled more than 75 miles across the county and beyond to raise cash for The Fire Fighters Charity.
The group travelled from Eastleigh to Southampton via the Isle of Wight, Hamble, Warsash, Gosport, Portsmouth, Lymington and Hythe.
The cycle ride also included six ferries and took more than 12 hours.
The delegation from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service included Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Bowers plus assistant chief fire officers Stew Adamson and Shantha Dickinson.
They were joined by colleagues Howard Watts, Kevin Evenett, Debbie Worley, Sophie Tustian, Dave Turner, Molly Rowland and Alex McGrory and Police Constable Paul Tustian.
Graham Orchard from Ryde Fire Station also cycled a leg while Becky Leigh and Joanna Wilson attended to support the group throughout the day.
The cycle ride was Andy’s idea after he joined autistic schoolboy fundraiser Andy Impey on previous cycling challenges.
He said:
“The charity is clearly one that is very close to all of our hearts and we all felt a strong commitment to supporting the vital work that they do.
“We got tremendous support from our colleagues across the service and beyond with donations and messages of encouragement.
“Crews put on countless activities every year to support this cause and I think almost all firefighters can think of somebody who has been helped by this fantastic charity.”
The Fire Fighters Charity, which supports service personnel affected by injury, illness or psychological trauma, is running the #My75Miles challenge until the end of the year.
