Retired firefighter takes the high road (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Retired Northallerton firefighter embarks on Scottish charity ride

9:52am Friday 31st August 2012 in News

A RETIRED firefighter is embarking on a road expedition for a charity that helped rehabilitate him after ill-health.

Dave Prattley, from Northallerton , is to travel around the coast of Scotland on his motorbike to raise money for the Fire Fighters’ Charity. The charity’s rehabilitation centre in Penrith treated him for back and shoulder problems and a mini stroke.

He hopes to raise £2,000 for the organisation, which enhances quality of life for serving and retired fire fighters and their families.

Mr Prattley said: “I had a mini stroke earlier this year, which I wasn’t anticipating. I’ve been in the fire brigade all these years so things don’t really frighten me, but that did.”

Following treatment, his only lasting health problems remaining from his stroke is tiredness, and he will be factoring in extra breaks on his 1,800 mile journey to deal with the added fatigue.

He will set off from the Fire Brigade Rehabilitation Centre in Penrith on Monday.

Mr Prattley helped set up and run an Explorer Scout unit in Northallerton. In his time with the group he helped organise a camping expedition to the Australian outback and will be using those skills on his journey, as he plans to camp every night.

Mr Prattley will also be visiting all eight of Scotland’s fire brigades. He will collect a cap badge from each station, ahead of them being amalgamated into a single Scottish fire brigade next year.

The badges will be mounted on a plinth and auctioned off to raise further funds for the charity.

To donate online visit the web page; justgiving.com/firefighters-charity-ride or to donate from a mobile phone account text WOGM97 with the amount you wish to donate to 70070.