Three groups of young people who successfully completed South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s pioneering ‘Dragon Programme’ have raised over £300 for the Firefighters Charity as a thank you.

Youngsters from Abersychan, St Illtyds and Hawthorn Comprehensive Schools donned walking boots to climb the Sugarloaf in Abergavenny at the beginning of July.

Collecting sponsorship from family and friends, the pupils raised money for the Firefighters Charity as a gesture of appreciation for the Firefighters who ran the programme providing an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all.

Watch Manager Jim Cookson led the teenagers through the Dragon Programme; a one-day-a-week Firefighting skills course over twelve weeks. He and fellow Dragon Programme leader Brian Amos walked the three groups up to the top of the mountain over 1st – 3rd July.

Jim said, “We’re really proud of the young people for completing the Dragon Programme and then taking it upon themselves to give something back to the Fire and Rescue Service. They have been a credit to their schools and families and we wish them all the very best in their future education and career choices. Raising money for our charity is a superb deed and will be greatly appreciated by Firefighters across the UK. The charity makes a difference to the lives of all those in the Fire and Rescue Service and is a very worthwhile cause.”

The Dragon Programme is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and aims to provide an alternative way of learning for pupils whose needs are not being fully met in the traditional classroom environment. The Programme has been successful in closing the bond between the young community and Firefighters. It has been running for nearly two years and has reached around 150 youngsters so far.