Firefighters aiming high for kids club

TWO firefighters are taking on a mountain marathon to raise money for the Scottish Burned Children’s Club.

Firemen Les Mason, based at Livingston fire station, and Lee Peyton, station commander at Lothian and Borders Fire Service HQ in Edinburgh, are preparing to take part in the Original Mountain Marathon at the Howgills, in the north of England, this weekend.

The two-day event will see pairs of trekkers navigate between a series of checkpoints in the mountains while carrying their equipment over the course of 36 hours.

Mr Peyton was a late call-up for the event, and Mr Mason said he was pleased to have found a new team-mate.

“My original training partner had to drop out so Lee very kindly offered to step in,” said Mr Mason. “He has lots of experience in arduous adventure racing and will be the ideal partner.”

More than 300 competitors will take on the challenge in eight different classes. The Scottish Burns Children’s Club is based in Livingston, West Lothian, but also works nationally to help children who have suffered burn or scald injuries.