Cosham firefighters raise hundreds of pounds in charity car wash

The crew at Cosham were kept busy on Saturday washing about 100 cars.

It was part of a fundraiser aimed at supporting three charities, The Fire Fighters Charity, The Royal Marines Association and The Special Boat Service Association.

The event is thought to have banked several hundred pounds prompting the day’s organiser to praise local residents for their support.

Crew manager Andy Hunt said: ‘It is heartwarming to see the support. It shows that people appreciate you for the job that you do in supporting them in their hour of need.’

Despite tackling the car wash, crews still had to contend with their bread and butter roles – firefighting.

Throughout the day the teams were called out five times, including to a fire at a laundrette in Southsea.

In the five hours the event was on for, Andy estimates his team cleaned about 100 cars.

He said people donated everything from £5 to £20 a wash, adding the support was invaluable in paying helping The Fire Fighters Charity.

‘The charity is a godsend to a lot of people,’ he said. ‘When your in your hour of need you can go to them for respite, support and rehabilitation.

‘We’re only human after all and we feel the same things as everybody else. ‘

The charity, which has rehabilitation centres dotted around the country, helps injured firefighters and their families. It offers support for those battling PTSD.

The fundraiser comes ahead of the fire service’s major drive in July.

A team of about 18 will trek 120 miles through France in tribute to the famed Cockleshell Heroes.

The firefighters will be walking the route the Royal Marines ran after a daring raid on the German-held port of Bordeaux during the Second World War.

To raise awareness of this, a team from Cosham will be walking 15 miles from Horndean to Gunwharf Quays on May 20 – carrying a 70kg klepper kayak while wearing full protective gear.