Crew Manager Lee (Jack) Russell and the crew from Saltash Fire Station will be completing a 27hr endurance event, starting at mid-day on October 23^rd to raise awareness of Blood Cancer and raise funds for the Lymphoma Action Charity.

The 27 hour endurance event has been organised in support of Lymphoma Action after Jack’s wife, Tracey, was diagnosed with stage 4 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in July of this year at the age of 48. 

Jack says “getting that initial cancer diagnosis is something you never expect, and changed our lives instantly.  Telling our children and family, and getting through the initial shock was extremely difficult. Tracey is now undergoing 4 months of intensive chemotherapy which is physically and emotionally draining.  We are incredibly grateful to Lymphoma Action and the fantastic care and support Tracey continues to receive from the Haematology Team on Birch Ward at University Hospitals Plymouth.”

We chose ‘27’ as the theme for our event because every 27 minutes one of us is diagnosed with Lymphoma in the UK.  Lymphoma is the 5th most common cancer, and affects all age groups including children and young adults.  There are no known causes of lymphoma which is a complex disease with over 60 different subtypes.

We’re aiming to raise £2,700 for the Lymphoma Action charity, and are also asking for the whole community to get involved by getting active for 27 minutes as part of this campaign to raise awareness and funds.  This can be done locally with friends or family, or as part of a community group.  Alternatively there will be refreshments at the station during the actual event weekend and we are hoping to get lots of support from the community to keep us going throughout the 27 hours.  For our finale, at 3pm on 24^th October, there will be some serious hair cuts in support of Tracey’s hair loss from the side effects of her current chemotherapy treatment.

"We are so grateful to Saltash Fire Station for their support" says Sarah Thorn, Community and Partnerships Manager at Lymphoma Action. “Through these funds raised, we can continue to provide vital information and support to people affected by lymphoma, to make sure no one has to face lymphoma alone."

You can support us by donating at:   

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/saltashfirestation27hrevent

You can also come along to Saltash Fire Station at any time between mid-day on the 23^rd October to 3pm on 24^th October, to cheer us on and donate at the station.