Fire and Rescue Service nets award for cycle fundraising trip
Money raised was donated to The Fire Fighters Charity and the effort was recognised at the national Spirit of Fire Awards where the service won the Team of the Year category.
Twenty fire fighters and support staff from stations across Oxfordshire took part in the ride last July through four countries, starting at Bonn Square, Oxford and ending in Bonn, Germany.
When they were in Belgium on the way they met 20 Bonn fire fighters and rode with them to Germany, where they took part in activities linked to the 150th anniversary of the Bonn Fire Service.
Team members also voluntarily spent time over a nine-month period promoting cycle safety awareness, to local primary school children.
Hard work and dedication
David Etheridge, Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer, said: "I am extremely proud that Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has been named Team of the Year and I would like to personally thank every member of my staff involved for the great effort that was put in raising the money through the cycle ride and for volunteering their own time to promote cycle safety to youngsters.
"The Fire Fighters Charity is an excellent charity which supports serving and retired fire fighters and their families and Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service is delighted to support it in any way that we can."
Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Residents of Oxfordshire are fortunate that they have an extremely dedicated Fire and Rescue Service who go that extra mile to support the community and this award is recognition of the excellent work that is done locally. I would like to congratulate everybody involved."
The annual Spirit of Fire Awards honour remarkable acts of bravery by fire fighters nationally and examples of outstanding dedication to The Fire Fighters Charity, which assists serving and retired fire fighters and their dependents.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was also shortlisted as Brigade of the Year and Oxfordshire County Council was shortlisted as Corporate Supporter of the Year.