Telford Firefighter starts gruelling hike on Monday

A sponsored marathon is enough to bring most people out in a sweat, but Telford firefighter Emily Jane Harding is tackling the 630 mile South West Coast Path, carrying everything on her back.

The trip kicks off on 30th of June and is set to last until mid-September. Emily says “Originally, this was just a personal milestone.” it’s Emily-Janes 30th birthday “But the more I talked about it, the more I realised it could mean something more. I want to use this journey to give back—to support causes that matter deeply to me and to make every mile count.”

The Retained Firefighter who works for the Ministry of Defence when not dropping everything to get to the station for a shout, told Telford Live “I’ve got 2 and a half months off work to do it in but I’ve got a break half way to go to Boardmasters.

“I just want to enjoy it and take each day as it comes so don’t want to put too much pressure to finish as quick as possible. “

Emily-Jane is fundraising for three incredible charities:

– The Fire Fighters Charity: As a retained firefighter, this one is close to home. They provide physical, emotional, and social support to fire service personnel and their families during difficult times.

– The Veterans Foundation: Through her full-time work, Emily-Jane says that she has seen the life-changing impact of this charity. They support veterans, serving military members, and their families, especially those in hardship.

– The South West Coast Path Association: This charity maintains and protects the path so more people can enjoy its beauty.

Sure it’s a long way, but there are also a lot of ups and downs. “It’s not just long; it’s tough – the total elevation is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest four times!” says Emily-Jane.

For those wanting to donate, the link is here: https://gvwhl.com/W2MOV