An East Sussex Fire and Rescue team will take on the '3 Piers Challenge' to support the Firefighters Charity and their local Firefighter battling a rare form of cancer.

A team from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service will take on a 42 mile relay run from Brighton Palace Pier to Eastbourne Pier and finish at Hastings Pier on the 16th September 2017.

Firefighters and those that work within the Fire and Rescue Service are reassured that the Firefighters Charity will always be there if we were to ever need it. However, the charity is currently spending more money in treating those in need than they are receiving through donations.

This East Sussex team want to assist in securing the future of the Firefighters Charity so they are always there to support colleagues in need like local Firefighter Chris 'Casper' Mepham and this event will provide much needed financial support to both causes.

Casper is a 37 year old Firefighter since 2003, currently serving in Hastings, who earlier this year was diagnosed with bowel cancer following a routine colonoscopy.

Scans revealed the cancer had spread to lymph nodes around the Aorta. His situation was not clear and following referral to the Royal Marsden and extensive surgery it was confirmed that he actually has TWO primary cancers. The bowel cancer is very rare and aggressive which contains 'signet ring cells' which affects less than 1% of those diagnosed and he also has testicular cancer which has spread to his aortic nodes.

Casper is a proud father to Esmae and his wife Sarah is expecting their second child within weeks. Casper is extremely well respected by colleagues and has always support others including being a trustee for years for local charity - 'Charity for Kids'. At one stage during this journey palliative care had been discussed but standing true to Casper's style, he did not take a step back and has taken this battle on with cancer and is determined to do whatever it takes to win.

So far, Casper has had both tumours removed but unfortunately the bowel cancer has spread to an area called the peritoneum. He has completed 7 courses of Chemotherapy but desperately needs further surgery at a specialist hospital in Basingstoke. This will remove his Peritoneum and use a procedure called HIPEC. This could lead to long term remission.

Casper is determined to take this opportunity but if unsuccessful in being accepted by the NHS, the cost of this procedure will be in the region of £80,000 - £100,000.

The Firefighters Charity needs our help to ensure long term security in providing support to Firefighters during their time of need.

Casper and his family need our help now.

All monies raised from this event will be shared between the two causes.

Thanks for taking the time to read our story and if you are able, please make a donation to support all of our Colleagues in the Fire and Rescue Service