Thirty firefighters from across Lincolnshire have completed a gruelling 75-mile walk in memory of the Bradford City stadium fire which occurred 40 years ago.
The crew – from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue – took just 28 hours to complete the journey from Lincoln to the Valley Parade football ground where the tragedy happened.
They raised £25,000 for the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit at the University of Bradford, with a further aim to to raise at least £56,000 through other events this year.
Bradford City were playing Lincoln City in the old third division when the catastrophe occurred on May 11, 1985.
Oliver Baldman, 27, a firefighter, who took part in the walk, said: “It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done.”
The route took them through Lincoln city centre collecting donations, with Baldman saying he was surprised by just how much support they received from people. They also walked through Doncaster and Wakefield.
An initial plan to complete the walk in three days was scrapped to make the challenge tougher – but Baldman said: “If it wasn’t for the support, I would have been in the support vans from much earlier on.”
They finished at Valley Parade ahead of Bradford City’s home game against Crewe Alexander on April 5.
Baldman said: “The support was incredible, so many people shouting and screaming about the achievement we just accomplished. It made all the lows worth it, and I would 100 per cent do it all again in the future.”
Deputy Divisional Commander Andy Dixon, who supported the group along the route with colleagues by minibuses, said: “As well as raising funds for important causes, this event acts as a way to remember those who lost their lives on that day.”
There is a donation page still active online.
