Two firefighters are taking on an 81 mile fundraising walk from Epping to Harwich.

Firefighters Toby Ingham and Luis de Goni-Parks decided to take on a charity challenge by walking the Essex Way after hearing about the struggles The Fire Fighters Charity had been facing during the pandemic.

The pair are set to tackle the challenge in just three days on from August 21.

Toby, station manager in Emergency Planning, is currently seconded to the Covid-19 Multi Agency Information Cell, will be joined by Luis, a community builder in the South West Essex team.

Toby said: "Many charities have been hit hard by the pandemic, including The Fire Fighters Charity which has been forced to cancel most of its fundraising events.

"Me and Luis wanted to do something about it and came up with this challenge to make people aware of the struggle charities are facing and to raise some money."

Luis said: "We'll have to travel light and fast to complete it in three days, walking for about 12 hours a day. We're both outdoors people - I've walked in the Lake District and Brecon Beacons - but this will be really tough."

Toby and Luis plan to walk the equivalent of a marathon a day, about 26.5 miles.

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