ODIHAM and Hartley Wintney fire stations will be one of 10 stops for the crew from Tadley on a fundraising mission.

Station crew from Tadley will carry a stretcher between 10 stations in north Hampshire as part of the fundraising efforts for a local boy.

Six-year-old Oliver Fell has a brain condition called lissencephaly (smooth brain), which is a degenerative illness with poor prognosis, with many children diagnosed dying before the age of 10.

The youngster from Tadley is unable to sit or stand unless supported, and he has very little use of his limbs, hands or feet, and suffers from uncontrollable epilepsy and has limited head control.

Oliver’s family applied for a grant to provide a downstairs bedroom with shower facilities, hoisting equipment and easier access to their home. However the local authority will only fund a maximum of £30,000 towards the £60,000 cost.

A GoFundMe page called Oliver’s Dream has been set up, with the goal of raising the remaining money/

After firefighters from Tadley station heard about Oliver and his parents efforts to raise £30,000, the team of 12 decided to join forces to help raise funds towards the target.

The watch manager at the station, Sally Gould, has a son in the same class at school as Oliver’s brother, and is taking part in the challenge which will see the team of 12 carry a stretcher with a dummy on it to 10 fire stations.

The challenge will take place on Saturday. August 6, with the route covering around 55 miles while carrying 50 kilos in weight.

Nearly £2,000 has already been raised on the GoFundMe page and the local firefighters will be hoping to significantly add to that total.

The firefighters page can be found at crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Tadley12.

While more on Oliver’s story can be found at www.gofundme.com/Oliver-s_Dream.