PLETTENBERG BAY NEWSFLASH - The Plettenberg Bay community united on Saturday September 30, 2017 not only to honour the firefighters who risk their lives to protect their community, but also to raise funds for them to ensure they have the best equipment to do so.

The event, Plett #SoundstheCallRace at the Cairnbrogie Estate, not involved not only a mountain bike race but an array of entertainment.

All proceeds will go towards the #SoundstheCall initiative aimed at raising funds for local fire management units. 

The initiative was started after the massive role these volunteer firefighters played during the June Plett and Knysna fires which claimed the life of one these members, Bradley Richards.

One of many highlights was the “toughest firefighter” contest which saw volunteers, Bitou firefighters and local crime fighters take on various challenges – from tyre flips to carrying heavy loads of water – for the ultimate title.

“Everyone who participated in the challenge showed sterling efforts. Some got sunburn and others serious muscle burn. 

"Most had no idea how tough that challenge was going to be and that was less than half of the full ‘toughest firefighter alive’ competition. 

The FMU’s took a beating. Respect to the Bitou Fire Department,” Steve Ritky of the Plett South FMU said.

Read more in Thursday's Knysna-Plett Herald and online.

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