A PORTHMADOG firefighter will test his survival skills in the Irish wilderness to raise money for cancer research after two of his uncles were diagnosed.

Richard Brookes, 47, will spend two days and one night deep in the Irish wilderness, surviving on the bare minimum and challenging the wild to raise money for North West Cancer Research, a charity which funds life-saving research at Bangor University.

Inspired by his two uncles, Malcolm and Bobby Pearson, who have both been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Richard has signed up to take part in Heart North Wales Radio’s Challenge the Wild weekend.

Malcolm, 68 is now in recovery after two years of treatment, and his brother Bobby, 63, is continuing his fight with regular treatment and support from family and friends.

To help raise money for North West Cancer Research and help others who have been affected by cancer, Richard will join nine other fundraisers and Heart North Wales presenters Oli Kemp and Rachael Howarth in Killarney, County Kerry, on Friday, 23 June.

The group will be split into two teams headed by Oli and Rachael, and will spend the weekend challenging themselves to rock climb, scramble, abseil, cliff jump, trek in the dark, and explore tunnel caves.

The group will survive on food sourced from the land and sleep under basic army style tarpaulin shelters and tents.

Richard said: “Challenge the Wild will be a real testament to my endurance. The nature of my job as a firefighter means that I am required to keep active, but it will be nothing compared to the two days in Ireland.

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