Ricky Lightfoot, right, with fellow charity challenge firefighters

A firefighting fellrunner is set to blaze a trail in a challenge relay – wearing his full fire kit.

Ricky Lightfoot will be joined by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service colleagues in a relay along the full Bob Graham Round route.

The 20 firefighters will swap their boots for running shoes to tackle the 106km (66-mile) route, but will be kitted out in their normal protective gear. They aim to raise cash for the Fire Fighters Charity, which offers specialist lifelong support for members of the UK’s fire services community.

Salomon-sponsored Lightfoot has a string of fell- and ultrarunning victories under his belt, including the Three Peaks Race, the Three Shires, Borrowdale, Wasdale and Ennerdale fell races, as well as triumphs in skyrunning competitions.

The group of runners attempting the Bob Graham Round relay includes staff from all rungs of the ladder, including the deputy chief fire officer, with ages ranging from 20s to late 50s with a few running virgins in their midst. Each leg is a minimum of 11 miles.

Ricky Lightfoot in action during the Three Peaks Race. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The challenge will begin from the traditional Bob Graham start point at Keswick Moot Hall at 10pm on Saturday 8 August.

The running team said: “Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is determined to support the Fire Fighters Charity especially through this difficult time of the pandemic.

“As with all charities, the Fire Fighters Charity fundraising team have been affected by the pandemic with members of the team being furloughed which has reduced fundraising and donations.”

The runners set an initial target of raising £500 on its Virgin Money Giving page, an amount that has already been surpassed.

The Bob Graham Round, named after the Keswick runner who first completed the run, involves summiting 42 Lake District fells in 24 hours. The route has 8,200m (26,000ft) of ascent.