Haverhill dad to wear 40kg of firefighting kit while competing at Hyrox London for The Fire Fighters Charity and Action Duchenne

A part-time firefighter and competition athlete is preparing to take on what will be his toughest ever physical challenge - and it’s all in the name of charity.

Richard Daniels, a retained firefighter for seven years in his hometown of Haverhill, will be taking on the London Hyrox at the Olympia, on May 4 to raise money for two charities close to his heart.

A hyrox demands that its competitors run 8km, with a different work out exercise having to be completed at the end of each kilometre, including a 1,000m SkiErg, 80m burpee broad jumps, a 1,000m row and a 200m farmers carry, with a 24kg kettle bell on each arm.

Having seen its valuable work close up, Richard is raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity but he is also looking to raise funds for Action Duchenne, a charity working to combat muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder resulting in progressive muscle weakness.

His wife Kelly’s cousin had muscular dystrophy and died when he was just 11.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Roman Way with Kelly and their daughters Sophia, nine and Olivia, three, is taking on the hyrox in full firefighting kit and a breathing apparatus cylinder, equal to about 40kg of extra weight.

Having competed in about 10 hyrox so far, this will be his toughest one yet, as Richard explained: “Preparing for it is a lot different because I’ve been taking my own fire kit home and I’ve been training in that and I’ve been running in my fire kit.

“I’ve had to run with different weights on me as well to kind of simulate wearing a cylinder on my back. It’s taken early morning trains and late nights. It’s taking a lot of preparation.

“When you normally do them (hyrox) you’ve literally got your trainers and your shorts on and because its in an inside area most people to it with their tops off because of the humidity but this is going to be withy 40kg of extra weight.

“Better hydration and fuelling right, they are the ones you’ve got to make sure you are on point with.”

Richard, a full-time employee of electricity utility company E.ON and former footballer that includes West Wratting and Long Melford among his clubs, said of his reason for the challenge: “I’m kind of giving something back.”

He also represents the Myzone team in athx games, Nuclear Fit and Essex Games at competitions - all of which are based on gruelling workout and fitness exercises, sometimes combined with running.

The day after the charity hyrox, he will compete in another hyrox in the pro category.

To donate to Richard click HERE or HERE

To follow Richard’s preparations for London, see his updates on Instagram at rd_fitness89.