WITH more than 63,000 steps under their belts, firefighters from Tadley dug deep to raise nearly £2,000 for a good cause.

A team of five set themselves the challenge of walking from Southsea Fire Station, in Portsmouth, back to Tadley on August 24 and 25, while carrying a 30kg dummy on a stretcher.

The challenge was to raise funds for the charity Oliver’s Dream, a campaign to help Oliver Witcomb, from Tadley, who suffers from a rare brain condition called lissencephaly which affects his development and so he needs constant care and supervision.

His parents are hoping to raise enough money to make life more comfortable at home for both Oliver and his family, such as by installing a downstairs toilet and shower, and a hoist to allow him to be more mobile.

Spirits were high during the 70 miles journey which took 24 hours and 20 minutes walking time to complete, stopping off at various fire stations along the way

Tadley station watch manager Sally Gould said: “It was a really fun experience, but it was also really hard work.

“There was five of us on the Friday, but due to work we dropped down to a four-person team on the Saturday.

“Doing the walk from Alresford station to Basingstoke was probably the longest and most difficult stint as we were all starting to feel the aches and pains a bit by that point.

“But we were given a warm welcome and every station we visited which kept us going.”

Sally added: “When we started to feel the pain setting in we just knew it was nothing compared to what Oliver’s family goes through on a daily basis and it was that drive which kept us going.”

When the team was on the home stretch, Sally said there was a mixture of emotions from elation to relief as they could see Tadley on the horizon.

She added: “There was a moment when we were leaving Basingstoke and it was late at night and we could see the lights of the town fading behinds us, but we could see the lights of Tadley up ahead and there was that sense of we are almost home.”

The money raised will go to Oliver’s family to help make improvements to their home to dramatically change Oliver’s day-to-day life, making the care of the youngster much easier for his family.

The challenge is not the first the fire station has held this year to help Oliver and his family as the team held a fun day last month which raised £500 for the cause.

The team is still raising funds for Oliver’s Dream.

To donate, go to gofundme.com/24-to-12.