The Fire Fighters Charity held a successful Ladies Driving Challenge Event on Alconbury Weald in May 2014. The event is held annually to raise money for the charity which supports thousands of Fire and Rescue service personnel each year. The Charity provides treatment for injuries, therapy and recuperation and a range of other support services both through three UK centres and in local areas across the country.

The Challenge enables women to try their hand at driving a range of different vehicles: from buses and trucks to tractors, quads, fire engines and even a hovercraft! Ladies also got a chance to try the Skid Car Challenge, which helps drivers learn to control and prevent a vehicle skidding.

This year over 150 ladies took part and over £19, 600 was raised for the charity. This event is now one of the biggest of its kind in the country. Paul Staple from Alconbury Driving Centre who works with both Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to organise the event said “I think this year was one of the best yet, in the four years we’ve been running this event. The range of vehicles on offer just gets better each year and we get incredible feedback from those ladies taking part who would never normally get the chance to drive such large and unusual vehicles. Its great to see them having so much fun, gaining experience and at the same time raising money for such a good cause.”

“The Alconbury Driving Centre provides the Fire and Rescue Service with driver training and development, so the Ladies Driving Challenge is a great opportunity to be able to help them in return”

Alconbury Weald’s Victoria Parchment was one of the ladies who took part in the challenges. “The hovercraft was by far the strangest vehicle I’ve ever driven and as the wind was up that day it was all the more exciting. Nabila, who came with me, had her dream come true when she drove a fire engine up and down the runway.” The Charity raises £10 million each year to keep their support going.

To find out more about the charity and their events visit:

www.thefirefighterscharity.org.uk