Firefighters Get 70kg ‘Training Buddy’ to Tackle Brutal Firefighter Challenge
Two dedicated firefighters now have a brand new 70kg “training buddy” to help them prepare for one of the toughest competitions in the emergency services world.
Lauren Addis and Lisa Norgate-Barnes, both serving on-call firefighters, are gearing up for the 2026 British Firefighter Challenge — a brutal international event that tests strength, stamina and teamwork while raising money for emergency service charities.
But while training for the competition, the pair realised they had a problem.
One of the hardest parts of the challenge is the casualty drag, where firefighters must pull a 70kg dummy while wearing full fire kit weighing around three-and-a-half stone.
Unfortunately, their training partner — a 55kg dummy affectionately nicknamed “Tom” after actor Tom Hardy — just wasn’t heavy enough to replicate the real challenge.
A New Training Partner
Knowing they needed the full weight to train properly, help came from an unexpected place.
Lisa’s husband Sam Barnes, Sales Director at Agility EOR, raised the issue with the company — and they quickly stepped in to help.
The global Employer of Record specialist funded the purchase of a full-weight 70kg training dummy, giving the firefighters the equipment they need to properly prepare for the event.
Sam said he’s seen just how tough the competition can be.
“The physical demands are intense. Competitors wear full fire kit while completing extremely challenging tasks.
The hours of training don’t just prepare them for the competition — they also improve their readiness when responding to real emergencies.”
Training Just Got Tougher
Lisa said having the correct equipment will make a huge difference as they build up to the competition.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from Agility EOR. The British Firefighter Challenge is one of the toughest events we take part in, so being able to train properly is a massive help.”
Their previous training dummy “Tom” may have served them well, but now the pair can finally practice with the real competition weight.
There’s just one thing left to do.
“All we need now,” Lisa joked, “is a name for the new dummy.”
One of the Toughest Firefighter Events
The British Firefighter Challenge is organised by firefighters for firefighters and pushes competitors to their physical and mental limits.
Events include high-intensity obstacle courses, equipment carries and rescue simulations — all while wearing full firefighting gear.
Alongside the competition, the challenge also raises vital funds for charities supporting emergency service workers.
As training ramps up for 2026, supporters will be watching to see how Lauren and Lisa get on — with their new 70kg teammate helping them every step of the way.
If you have a positive story or uplifting news to share, we’d love to hear from you!
Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk.
Whether it's a local hero, an act of kindness, or a personal win, your story could help spread joy and improve someone’s mental health.
Let’s make the world a little brighter, one good news story at a time.
information about The Firefighter Challenge, visit www.britishfirefighterchallenge.co.uk.
