My son Thomas Hackett is part of a team of 15 cadets and seven leaders from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service who are currently supporting the Service’s long standing charitable connection with the UK Charity, Classrooms in the Clouds. They are now raising funds to support a school build in the Solukhumba district of the Himalayan mountains in Nepal. In 2026 they will travel to the country to provide the finishing touches and together with the Charity they will hand over the school to the local Nepalese community.

As a team they need to raise over £80,000 to pay for all aspects of the trip and vital materials required for the construction of earthquake resistant classrooms, giving Nepalese children much needed access to education.

In 2015, Nepal was hit by a shocking 7.8 magnitude earthquake which devastated much of the country. In response, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service sent a number of firefighters to help with the rescue and clean-up operations. Since then, the Service has continued its efforts to support the re-development of Nepal, regularly sending groups of firefighters and cadets to help in the most poverty-stricken areas where the effects of the earthquake can still be felt today.

He has been a Fire Cadet since February 2022. As soon as he heard about this project he knew he had to help. His personal fundraising target is £3,600 as his contribution towards the £80,000. In order to do this, he plans on doing multiple sponsored walks and hikes across the UK, as well as hosting car washes at local Fire Stations across Cheshire.

All donations are extremely helpful and very much appreciated.