A FIREFIGHTER who married in Sri Lanka is to compete in a gruelling test of strength to raise cash for the victims of the tidal wave of terror.

John and Vanessa Haynes wed in Bentota in September, 2002, and were horrified to discover the coastal hotel where they tied the knot and conceived their 18-month-old son, Mitchell, had been damaged by the Boxing Day tsunami.

At the time the disaster struck, Mr Haynes and his brother-in-law, Craig Webb, who plays for Stourport Swifts Football Club, were trying to decide which charity to support when they took part in Wolverhampton's annual Tough Guy competition. News of the tsunami made the decision for them.

Mr Haynes, who worked as a carpenter before he joined the fire brigade six years ago, is also considering taking a career break to use his practical skills to help rebuild Sri Lanka after the earthquake.

Sponsorship

The 31-year-old, of Summerfield Road, Stourport-on-Severn, said he had already broken the £100 mark and was trying to get as much sponsorship as possible.

"The Tough Guy contest is a charity event anyway and, when all this happened over Christmas, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to raise some money for it and we feel like we've got a connection with Sri Lanka because we were married there," he said.

"The people over there are extraordinarily kind. It's one of those places that you need to go to experience what they are like."

The annual challenge, on Sunday, January 30, includes a cross-country run through 8ft high brambles and nettles and an assault course.

Half of the proceeds go to the Wolverhampton horse sanctuary - Mr Mouse Farm for Unfortunates - but participants choose where they remaining sponsorship cash goes.

A sponsorship form is on display at On The Hob caf in Stourport.