Firefighters carry ladder six miles for charity

Tom Robjohns' son Alfie contracted viral meningitis at three weeks old

A firefighter and his team plan to walk six miles (9.7km) carrying a 34ft (10.5m) ladder to raise money for the hospital that saved his son’s life.

On Saturday, watch manager Tom Robjohns and 11 of his colleagues will be carrying the 40kg ladder from Lowedges Fire Station to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Mr Robjohns’ son Alfie, who was born in 2019, was taken to the hospital when he contracted viral meningitis at three weeks old.

He said: “Alfie had a really high temperature so we rushed him into the children’s hospital, who took one look at him and rushed him straight into resuscitation. We then had a week-long stint in the hospital and they saved his life.”

He added: “We’re really lucky. A colleague of mine lost his son who was only five weeks old. So, I’ve said to him, ‘I promise I’ll be doing this for your son as well'.”

Now aged five, Alfie has just finished his first year at school and Mr Robjohns said he was “everything you would want”.

“When you nearly lose a child, all you want is a normal kid and he’s exactly that. And that’s perfect,” he said.

'Huge challenge'

So far, the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service team has raised £1,973 as part of the hospital charity's Snowflake appeal.

Other challenges the service have completed include walking to every Sheffield fire station wearing breathing apparatus and climbing the equivalent height of the Yorkshire Three Peaks on a turntable ladder.

The six-mile route includes a fire safety session at St James retail park, where colleagues will be collecting donations in buckets.

Mr Robjohns said he was hoping the team would complete the challenge in three hours.

“It’s the second-biggest ladder we use and four of us will be carrying it. It weighs 40kg, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but it will be enough over six miles,” he said.

John Billings, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue area manager, said: “Since April, I’ve asked my teams across Sheffield to raise as much money as we can for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

“This is another huge challenge set by Lowedges and I couldn’t be prouder of the team.”

Emma Maskrey, the Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity's community fundraising officer, thanked the fire service for its commitment and generosity.

She said: “They’ve taken on some incredible challenges, with the ladder-carry at Lowedges being no exception. We’re so proud to have such a vital part of the Sheffield community supporting our charity.”

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