West Yorkshire Firefighters Sail to Glory!
Our West Yorkshire Fire Service sent a team to compete in one of the biggest events in the Emergency Services calendar – the annual MJ Quinn Firefighters Sailing Challenge.
Huddersfield Watch Commander Darren Bagley has led West Yorkshire’s sailing team since 2006, and since then the 32-strong crew has gone from strength to strength. Each year the service enters four teams in the three-day event, which took place in The Solent from 24th-26th April 2012.
26 teams set out for the regatta, but there could be only one winner, our very own team from West Yorkshire!
As well as bringing home the trophy the crew have also raised thousands of pounds for their chosen charities, Yorkshire Cancer Research and Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group. Darren (pictured 5th from left) said, “We were very keen to continue our established tradition of raising money for Yorkshire Cancer Research. This year, our fundraising has a more poignant meaning to me personally as I recently lost my father to acute leukaemia. “Our other chosen partner charity this year is Huddersfield Down Syndrome Support Group. I am personally involved with the organisation as my son was diagnosed with the condition when he was born 18 months ago.”
Huge congratulations from all at HDSSG on your win and we cannot thank Darren and his team enough for raising funds but more importantly awareness for our group.