Fire-fighters take on challenge to raise money for Pewsey Carnival
A crew from the Wiltshire village are taking on mammoth walk to support the community event.
A team of five from Pewsey Fire Station will walk from the village alongside the River Avon to Christchurch some 70 miles away.
The aim is to raise as much money as possible for Pewsey Carnival, as the procession has had to be cancelled this year due to Covid-19.
Wiltshire's oldest carnival dates back to 1868 and sees the village illuminated with handmade floads as well as wheelbarrow races!
EARLY START
The team will set off at 5pm today (18 September) arriving by the coast tomorrow on what would have been Carnival Day.
It's one hundred years ago this year that the journey from Pewsey to Christchurch was first recorded, after a group of locals rowed down the river to win a bet!
The anniversary is what prompted the firefighters to take on this particular challenge.
Crew Manager Mark Lewis said:
"With coronavirus restricting fundraising activities for Pewsey Carnival this year, we wanted to do something to support this community event and we couldn't think of a better way than emulating the epic voyage along the river to the sea! You can't row the route anymore, but the Pewsey Avon Trail to Salisbury, and the Avon Valley Path from Salisbury to Christchurch, means we can walk it and hopefully not get lost!"
He added:
"We're hoping to achieve a time that sets down a gauntlet for future generations, but the main thing is to raise as much money as possible, so we hope as many people as possible can sponsor us."
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
They've raised almost £500 so far, you can support the firefighters in their challenge www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tothesea2020