Firefighters support the Walk for Jon

Saturday, 18 October 2025 10:32

Source: Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Billesdon Station Facebook page (both images)

Firefighters from Billesdon Fire Station are leaving Uppingham this morning

on the final day of a ten day 252 kilometre walk to visit every fire station in Leicestershire and Rutland in memory of their colleague Jon Partridge, who died suddenly earlier this year. The Walk for Jon is raising money for the Firefighters Charity and visited Melton, Oakham and Uppingham yesterday. Chief Fire Officer Callum Faint met them in Uppingham and said it's a huge effort for all involved, especially where they also have day jobs as a retained station such as Billesdon or Uppingham.

‘We're raising money for the Firefighters Charity. Jon was a very, very big part of that. He was passionate about the Firefighters Charity. It is a great charity that helps injured, wounded firefighters and friends and family get back to full fitness. So we're looking to raise as much money we can do for what is a phenomenal charity that helps us and our members out significantly’.

The firefighters walking say they have had lots of support from their colleagues and a chance to remember.

'So other firefighters can join us if they can and give up their time, their time off so they can join us. Talking about Jon on reflection and things like that, tell our stories and how we are all knew him and it's been worthwhile, that's why we do it’.