Barnaby Long

My name is Barnaby Long, and I am proud to serve as an ambassador for the UK Pink Firefighters.   My journey in the fire service began in 2021 when I joined Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service as a retained firefighter. Five years later, I can honestly say I never imagined how much this career would shape my life and I couldn’t be happier with where it has taken me. For the past three years, I’ve worked in aviation firefighting with Capita Fire and Rescue, a role I’m incredibly proud to hold.   Over the last two years, I’ve also taken part in the British Firefighter Challenge, an annual event that brings together more than 300 competitors from across the UK and internationally. The course is tough; hauling hoses, climbing stairs, dragging casualties but the sense of camaraderie and purpose is unmatched. After my second year competing, I was honored to become one of the directors for the Memorial Stair Climb. This year, I will be helping lead 343 firefighters from the UK and Ireland to the United States, where we will climb 110 floors at Truist Park in Atlanta in honour of the FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on 9/11, twenty‑five years ago. Each participant will carry the name and photograph of one fallen firefighter, ensuring they are remembered not just as a number, but as a person, a colleague, and a hero.   Breast cancer awareness is another cause that means a great deal to me. My Granny, Auntie, and Godmother have all beaten breast cancer, and I’ve seen firsthand how devastating and how life‑changing that journey can be. Being able to combine my career with a mission that carries such personal meaning was an easy decision. I’m proud to help raise awareness, support those affected, and spread the message both inside and outside the fire service.