The comedian and broadcaster Sue Perkins, most famous for presenting the Great British Bake Off, has got behind a new lottery that is going to raise money to help UK firefighters and their families.
The Firefighters 100 Lottery, launched last month by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), is raising cash for a number of good causes that will help firefighters. As part of Sue’s message urging the public to support the new lottery, the television and radio star said:
“If a firefighter is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty, there is an assumption that they and their families will be cared for. What isn’t always appreciated is that there are sizeable gaps in the support and financial assistance available to those caught up in these tragedies. It is heartbreaking to see families go through the trauma of losing a loved one, only then to see their lives consumed by money troubles when they should be left in peace to mourn and rebuild their lives.”
The fund will support the establishment and maintenance of memorials for firefighters killed in the line of duty, and it will fund research into the mental and physical wellbeing of firefighters – these brave emergency services workers are known to be disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.
Sue continued: “Every day firefighters risk it all to protect their communities. Please support your firefighters and their families at times of greatest need.” Tickets cost just £1 per week, and participants could win up to a maximum of £25,000.
The lottery fund’s first donation will be in the new year to Scottish firefighter and watch manager Andy Adams who suffered life changing injuries resulting from attending a blaze in Greenock, Renfrewshire, in August this year. A wall collapsed onto father of two Adams, 49, who is now paraplegic as a result. The lottery funds will add to monies already raised by the severely injured firefighter’s colleagues.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU, which celebrates its centenary in 2018, said:
“We are delighted that Sue Perkins has got behind the five good causes the Firefighters 100 Lottery will fund. This important initiative is going to help not just the families of our fallen and injured firefighters, like Andy Adams – it will also help ensure that the lessons from such tragedies are remembered and learned, so that they and the public they serve are kept safe.”
Tickets for the Firefighters 100 Lottery are available at: www.firefighters100lottery.co.uk.
