Shropshire man to run 30 races with 20kg hay bale in memory of friend after fatal crash
Lee Firmstone is now known as "The Bale Man"
A man from Shropshire is completing a mammoth challenge in the name of his friend who died in a car crash.
Lee Firmstone is set to complete 30 races - ranging from Parkruns to half marathons - with a 20kg hay bale attached to his back.
Lee, who has adopted the nickname "The Bale Man" has taken on the challenge in memory of Will Rodgers who died after he was hit by a van in 2022.
"The challenge will be running and walking different challenges with a hay bale strapped to my back," Lee said.
"So I went to school with Will, we met at the age of twelve secondary school.
"We were friends until, unfortunately I say, the end. He's a fantastic lad, a young farmer, a rugby player, so complete opposite to me.
"He was big and strong -not really my build - always got a smile on his face like the gentle giant everyone called him."
Lee will be raising money for Shropshire Rural Support - a charity that supports Shropshire farmers and their families.
He continued: "So it is pretty bizarre, I get that.
"It's so obviously with the link of Will being a farmer, and I just thought it's something that would raise money and grab people's attention.
"I had the idea about four years ago when he was first taken, but I've since then had a family and stuff like that, so obviously life gets in the way, but I just went for it now because we're thirty this year.
"So I thought thirty challenges over the next year would be a great way to honour his life."
Over the next few months, Lee will be taking on races across Shropshire will his bale of hay.
He says Will would not believe it if he knew what he was doing.
"He'd probably think I was crazy for running in the first place," Lee said.
"But yeah, doing this - we won't use the words he would use, but yeah, He'd definitely think I was crazy."