FIRE AND RESCUE THROWS DOWN GAUNTLET TO GET TOWN INTO SHAPE AFTER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

IT'S ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE WITH EVERY TASK GEARED TO EMERGENCY SERVICE'S MOST FAMOUS NUMBER AND MAKING A 'POSITIVE DIFFERENCE' TO THE WORLD

ATHERSTONE has been put on an 'emergency' footing to get into shape – for the best of causes.

Firefighters have thrown down the gauntlet to townsfolk as they emerge from nearly four months of lockdownitis.

The county's fire and rescue service want the public to sign up to a unique set of tasks – to get everyone moving.

It has been created to help people of all ages and abilities, mindful of the impact coronavirus restrictions have had on the mental and physical wellbeing of individuals.

In a bid to see people getting outdoors and having fun – while at the same time raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity – the Warwickshire crews have set up a special challenge around the famous 999 emergency service number.

The challenge will run for NINE weeks from July 9 until September 9, involves a total of NINEteen actions and activities and is designed to start putting Covid-19 behind us.

The idea is to pick and complete the challenge and then donate anything from £1 to £9.99 or more to the Fire Fighters Charity.

This will help to ensure that the charity can continue to offer specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community.

To take part in the challenge you need to complete an activity from the list below.

Alternatively, you can come up with your own suggestion. As long as it has a '9' in it and will make a "positive difference" to the world and the people within it, say the organisers.

Once you have finished, you can nominate 9 people; friends, family members or colleagues to take part as well.

Then:

1 – Contact 9 people you know and check in on them. This can be on the phone, over social media or face to face where it's safe to do so.

2 – Complete 9 acts of kindness – little gestures can make a real difference to someone's day.

3 – Take 9 things to your local charity shop (if open) or donate 9 items to a food bank.

4 – Sit or stand and note 9 things you see, hear, smell, feel or sense that are around you.

5 – Sit for 9 minutes in meditation or silence.

6 – Learn 9 new facts or new words and share with a friend, family member or colleague.

7 – Learn the stop, drop & roll fire (like Cracker – https://youtu.be/O2iAO2651o8) then do it 9 times.

8 – Cycle, run, walk or row 9km.

9 – For the very active maybe try doing 9 press ups, 9 mountain climbers, 9 sit ups, 9 leg raises, 9 squats, 9 forward lunges, 9 star jumps, 9 backward lunges and 90 second plank. 9 times if you're up for a challenge. It adds up to a total of 19 different actions – if you did them all. Organiser of the event and on-call firefighter for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service Alison Insley said: "We are really excited about the 999 challenge. "We know the last few months have been difficult, and we wanted to try and do something that would bring the community together, by getting people moving and perhaps picking up the phone to check on a vulnerable relative, friend or neighbour. "You can do as much or as little as you like for the challenge, all we ask is that the challenges you set are safe and fun and if you can donate to the Fire Fighters Charity as part of the challenge, then even better." Warwickshire County Council's portfolio holder for community fire safety, Councillor Andy Crump added:"We would love as many people as possible to support the 999 challenge. "I think it's not only a great opportunity for people to get out and get active, but the nine acts of kindness could really make a difference to those living in your community." To find out more about the 999 challenge click here, If you use social media, why not share the challenges and achievements with the fire service on Twitter , on [L+] https://www.facebook.com/warwickshirefireandrescueservice [.L]Facebook, and on Instagram:.