Firefighter brothers 'humbled' by fundraiser award

Two firefighting brothers from Yorkshire have been honoured with national awards for their fundraising efforts in memory of victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.

Kev Sutcliffe, who works with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS), and his brother Mike, who works with the North Yorkshire service, raised more than £3,500 for the Grenfell Foundation and the Fire Fighters Charity.

They climbed the Bridgewater Place skyscraper in Leeds 72 times, representing the victims of the 2017 tragedy.

At Thursday's National Armed Forces and Emergency Services Event, they collected the Most Outstanding Overall Award.

They also picked up the Most Outstanding Fire Service Award.

Kev, who serves at Cleckheaton Fire Station and Mike, who is based at Acomb in York, climbed 24 storeys at Bridgewater Place 72 times - the equivalent of climbing Big Ben’s Elizabeth Tower 69 times.

They took a total of 138,000 steps, WYFRS said.

Kev said they were "truly humbled" by the two awards.

He added: "The nominations were deeply inspiring, showcasing the remarkable dedication and passion throughout our forces and services fields.

"This recognition affirms our efforts and helps us keep the victims and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in our thoughts.

"Our minds have been well and truly blown. Two ordinary lads from Yorkshire scooping a national award of this magnitude truly is humbling."

WYFRS praised the "remarkable recognition" for their "gruelling endurance challenge".

It said further fundraising would follow, with Mike running the London Marathon and Kev planning an open-water swimming challenge.

Their upcoming challenges will raise money for the British Forces Foundation - with the firefighters both having served abroad.

The National Armed Forces and Emergency Services Event, which was first held last year, celebrates achievements by service personnel, "from armed to emergency to volunteer", organisers said.

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