Oldbury firefighter Dean walks 37.5 miles around station in 10 hours to raise cash for NHS
A Black Country firefighter has taken on a 10-hour walk in a bid to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together.
West Midlands Fire Service firefighter Dean Harris, who is based at Oldbury Fire Station, took on his unique challenge on Saturday.
Dean, who has worked for the fire service for 13 years, had been planning to complete the 36-mile Shropshire six summits in June as well as the Welsh 3000s in July, but his plans had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, on his day off, he decided to walk the perimeter of the fire station for 10 hours solid – a whole day shift at work. He started at 8am on Saturday and finished by 6pm.
In total, Dean walked 37.5 miles, clocking up 68,000 steps and 215 laps of Oldbury Fire Station.
He hopes to raise £1,000 for the NHS Charities Together. So far, he has raised more than £600 – with donations still rolling in.
Dean, 41, who lives in Stourbridge, said: "I had seen what other people had been doing to raise money, such as Captain Tom, and I thought 'What can I do?'. My boss and I got our heads together, and decided I should work for an entire day shift, which is 10 hours between 8am and 6pm, around Oldbury Fire Station, where I am based.
"I set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for NHS Charities Together and just wanted to do my little bit to help.
"I normally do a walk every year, was planning to do the six summits this year but that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, so I really wanted to do something to challenge myself.
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"The challenge went really well for the first five hours, I did a good distance – but for the last five hours I really struggled. In total I did 37.5 miles in the 10 hours. It was 68,000 steps and 215 laps of the fire station.
"My mother lives in Spain and is in lockdown as well, she said she wanted to do it to give me some support. So she did the walk around her garden in Spain.
"I am suffering now! I have really bad blisters from the walk.
"I have raised about £630 now, which I am really pleased about – I'm over the moon. I wanted to do my bit to support the NHS in what they are doing."
To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/dean-harris15.
