Training begins near home for charity duo
(September 2007)

WARMING UP: firemen Charlie Cowpe and Les Bushell get in training for their charity run.

Runners jog for miles to prepare for tough races, but two Berkhamsted firemen entering a major event this month can't stray too far.

Charlie Cowpe and Les Bushell are in the thick of training for the Great North Run which takes place on September 30.

But even on their longest runs, the firefighting pair have to stay four minutes away from their base in Castle Street, in case of an emergency.
Les, of Swing Gate Lane, said: "We're retained fire-fighters, so we run with an alerter on.
"We have to circle around an area we think we can get back from."
Les and Charlie, of Ravens Wharf, are running the 13.1 mile race in Newcastle in their firefighting kit to raise £1,000 for the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.

The charity runners said they wanted to thank staff at the hospice for the care they gave to a former colleague before his death.
To sponsor the firefighters for their tough test up North, visit www.justgiving.com/berkofirefighters