An on-call firefighter from Weymouth is getting set to tackle an almighty tyre-pull fundraiser.

Billy Lewis, 25, will pull the Jeep tyre for six miles from the Frontline Café on Portland to the Old Spa Pub on Dorchester Road, Weymouth. And if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, Billy will be doing it in full fire kit.

The fundraiser, on Saturday, September 3, is in aid of The Firefighters Charity - which helps over 5,000 people each year.

Billy said he was inspired to take on the fundraiser after they’d helped him through some tricky personal circumstances.

He said: “I have struggled with mental health for the last couple of years and depression my whole life, really, and the fire service is so supportive but they pointed out The Firefighters Charity. I had a bit of time off, for a few different reasons, and The Firefighters Charity helped me with private physio and they also took me away for a four day ‘mental health reset’ workshop and that was incredibly helpful.

"Their support is absolutely life-changing. You see some things as a firefighter that can be tough to manage and, as a collective, I feel firefighters are doing a really good job of breaking the taboo and talking about our mental health.

"Everything just sort of got on top of me and if it wasn’t for the help of The Firefighters Charity then my life would be completely different, no doubt.”

Billy has been an on-call firefighter for five years and said it was the perfect combination of “being able to help people and staying physical”.

Ahead of the fundraiser, Billy said the biggest challenge would be the conditions on the day.

He said: “The heat and the grip will be the hardest challenge: fire kit is designed to keep the heat of the fire out but that also means it keeps a lot of your heat in. So when I’m pulling it for six miles it’s going to be hard to cool down but you’ve just got to push through it.

“I’m probably not the best at a few things but I’m a big guy and I can lift a tyre so I’m going to do that and see how much money we can raise. We’ll have some live music and a big raffle at the end so hopefully we’ll be able to give back to the charity.”

To find out more or to donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tyrepull

We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.

Please report any comments that break our rules.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here

© 2001-2022. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9TY. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |

Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event.

As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.

Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.

These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.

It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.