Heywood Fire Station wins fundraiser award

Rochdale Borough Manager Paul Starling, The Fire Fighters Charity Regional Fundraising Officer Northwest Alan Knell, Heywood Red Watch Firefighter Kate Lonsdale and Crew Manager Clayton Campbell

Heywood Fire Station has won an award for their fundraising efforts in 2014.

The station, along with others from across the North West, held a car wash fundraiser last September and Heywood alone raised £774.45 – more than any of the other stations involved.

The cash will go to the Fire Fighters Charity, which was set up to provide support for fire service personnel and their families, and the station is to be presented with a trophy for their efforts.

Alan Knell, the charity’s regional fundraiser working in the Greater Manchester area, said the car wash fundraisers have been happening for years and take place every March and September.

“We [the charity] cover fire fighters for the rest of their lives. We also look after their families,” he said.

The next event at Heywood, which lets the public drive to the station and have their car washed in exchange for a donation, is scheduled for 15 March.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is the largest fire service in England outside of London.