West Sussex Firefighter Takes On 100km Bike Ride In Remembrance Of Colleagues

Sunday, 24 April 2022 06:00

A Watch Manager from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service will be cycling 100km off road across Sussex to raise money for charity in memory of his former colleagues.

Jamie Cox will start the ride at St Matha’s Hill, Surrey, on April 30th and cycle down the Downs Link to Truliegh Hill then join and travel across the South Downs Way before finishing his journey in Eastbourne later that day.

The challenge is being undertaken to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity in memory of two well-loved and much-missed colleagues - Mark

Butler who lost his battle with leukaemia and Simon Constable who passed away having suffered a stroke in 2019.

Mark and Simon had served a combined total of 66 years in the fire service.

Speaking of his charity challenge, Jamie said:

“As we mark the third anniversaries of Mark and Simon’s passing’s, I am hoping to raise £250 for a charity that provides support for both serving and former firefighters, as well as their families.

“I regularly ride off road on my mountain bike but nowhere near the distance of over 100km in a day which is what I’ll be doing.

“The weather forecast is set to be warm and dry, which will make the ride less slippery on the hills, but it may make the climbs of Truleigh Hill, Firle Beacon, Wilmington Hill and going on to Jevington that little bit harder in the heat.

"Mountain biking is very different to road cycling technically with the average speed being less, especially when its muddy so we are grateful we have a dry week leading up to the event.”

Jamie will be joined on the day by Horsham Green Watch Manager Al Green, who will help set the pace, while friends and family will be joining them along the way to provide encouragement.

Jamie added:

“Three years on from losing Simon and Mark, they are still both very much in all of our thoughts. This one is for them.”