BLACKBURN firefighters Austin Foy and Jon Jacyk set a lightning pace when they walked the length of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal in just two days.

The duo, of White Watch, ended their night shift last Thursday morning and headed straight for Leeds to set out on the mammoth trek, which they completed with stops only for comfort breaks and food to raise money for Rosemere Cancer Foundation and the Firefighters’ Charity.

Austin, 39, of Hoddlesden, and Jon, 48, who lives in Chorley, walked through the night before meeting colleagues in Blackburn for breakfast on Friday morning.

They then ploughed on to Liverpool, reaching the canal’s end late on Friday evening.

Austin, who is married to primary school teacher Vicky with whom he has daughters Ruby, seven, and two-year-old Emmy, said: “We had to keep a good pace if we are to reach Liverpool in 30 or so hours.”

Austin and Jon, who is married to Cherie with 13-year-old twin daughters Isla and Nicole, are both long-serving firefighters.

They were inspired to include Rosemere as a beneficiary of their trek after the charity supported an office colleague through a cancer battle.

The pair have set up a donation page at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/white71 for anyone wishing to sponsor them.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation spends the donations it receives on vital equipment, research and training that cannot be funded by the NHS.

The charity looks after cancer patients in Lancashire.