A YOUNG firefighting enthusiast is embarking on a challenge to visit all 2,300 fire stations in the country to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.

Ten-year-old Andrew Impey from Portsmouth has recently met the fire fighters of Delabole, Launceston, Bude and Callington fire stations, amongst others in Cornwall, as part of his personal challenge to visit every station in the country.

Andrew lives with autism, meaning he finds it difficult to deal with social situations and struggles to read and write. Before his journey began, his mother, Kirsten Impey, was told he had the reading age of a four-year-old.

Andrew began his challenge 18 months ago, after showing a great interest in a local fire station. Within a few days, he decided to visit each and every one of the UK and Ireland’s fire stations, resulting in a list of 2,300 stations.

Additionally, after meeting a fire fighter who was being supported by the national organisation, the Fire Fighters Charity, Andrew decided he wanted to raise money along the way for this cause.

Andrew has now visited 819 stations across the country, and has recently added Launceston, Delabole, Bude and Callington stations to his list over the weekend.

Kirsten told the Post that Andrew’s journey began after leaving his previous school two years ago, where he didn’t receive the support he needed.

She said: “His new school has been absolutely brilliant and has given him so much support. When he left his old school, he had the reading age of a four-year-old; now he’s at his new school, we checked his reading age and it is now equivalent to an eight-year-old’s, which is fantastic.

“The fire service has been brilliant too; every time he visited, they would just keep giving him books and magazines about independence and other skills. One day he said to me: ‘Mum, I can’t read this’. I said: ‘What are you going to do?’ and he told me: ‘I’m going to learn’. That’s what this whole experience has done for him.”

Andrew has also enhanced his knowledge on science and geography during his experience, as well as improving his social skills and writing, after having to write thank you letters to the 819 fire stations he has visited.

Kirsten continued: “He still struggles, but he now he can do basic reading and writing. It’s all down to the fire service and his new school.”

As well as his current challenge, Andrew recently completed a 25 mile bike ride at home in Portsmouth, which, according to Kirsten, has been ‘a great achievement for him’.

Andrew has raised just over £1,400 for the Fire Fighters Charity so far, and by the time he reaches his 18th birthday — or even before then — Andrew and his family hope the fundraising will have reached a sky-high amount.

Kirsten added: “This experience is a way for Andrew to give back to the Fire Fighters Charity; every penny of the money he’s raised will go to them.”

To follow Andrew on his journey, visit his Twitter page at @AndrewDaneUK. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oneladschallenge