Marathon in firefighter kit will 'honour memories'

The London Marathon is hard enough for people wearing normal running gear, but one man is preparing to take the 26.2 mile (42 km) route through the capital to another level.

Chris Dabell, from Bicester, will be wearing full firefighters uniform for the race - including breathing apparatus - in memory of those killed in a fire at a business park in the town last year.

Firefighters Martyn Sadler, 38, and Jennie Logan, 30 were both killed in the blaze that engulfed Bicester Motion on 15 May, alongside father-of-two Dave Chester.

Dabell, who knew Sadler and Logan through their association with Bicester Rugby Club, said he "just felt like I needed to do something" to honour their memory.

"I was the chairman of Bicester Rugby Club at the time of the tragic event, and obviously Jenny and Martin paid the ultimate sacrifice there, as well as Dave Chester," he explained.

"It was really felt within the rugby club, that it was a tragic event and we supported each other."

Dabell is using his run, which will see him carry roughly 20kg (44lbs) worth of additional weight, to raise funds for the Fire Fighters Charity.

He said, after 15 years serving in the military, that the tragedy at Bicester Motion had a "real impact" on him.

"I just felt a need to do something to honour all of our service personnel across the country locally and across all front lines really," he said.

"What better way to do that than push myself into the London Marathon for the Fire Fighters charity to support an amazing cause."

He said wearing firefighter uniform was about "representing the service and what the crews put on every day they go to a call".

Training for the marathon, which takes place on 26 April, began for Dabell in July last year - just months after the fatal blaze rocked the north Oxfordshire market town.

"There's been ups and downs throughout," he said of his preparation, before thanking the "absolutely amazing" Bicester community.

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