Cadets hose down in aid of dementia charity

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s cadets are aiming to raise £1,000 for Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support (BIADS) — a charity close to some of the cadets’ hearts.

The cadets will be attempting to run out 88 lengths of hose in under two hours.

This will be done relay style and see each cadet unreel one full length of fire hose, roll it back in and then hand over to the next person.

A fire hose is 25 metres in length but the cadets will be using a 12 metre hose reels.

The challenge will start at 10am on Saturday (August 7) in Barnsley town centre’s Mandela Gardens.

Watch manager and cadet lead Fleur Holland said BIDAS had been hit hard by the pandemic and had been forced to close last year.

“They have recently opened back up again and the cadets really wanted to support them as they get back to normality,” she said.

“The reason they are running out 88 lengths of hose is that, as well as supporting the charity, we are also supporting the grandaughter of a charity beneficiary who, sadly, is no longer with us — he was 88 when he passed away.”

Racheal Larkin is running 88 miles in August in memory of her grandfather, Ernest Woodcock, who had Alzheimer’s, passed away aged 88 in January. He would have turned 89 this month.

“I’m really proud of what the cadets are doing and hope local people will be kind enough to support their efforts,” added Fleur.

The event on Saturday will be opened by the assistant Lord Mayor of Barnsley and it is hoped the cadets will be joined by one of the local fire crews.

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/south-yorkshire-cadets to sponsor their efforts.