Death of 'gentle giant' inspires hay bale runs

A man whose close friend died in a hit-and-run crash says he is taking on 30 runs while carrying a 20kg hay bale on his back for his "gentle giant" mate.

Lee Firmstone, from Broseley, Shropshire, wanted to mark what would have been Will Rogers' 30th birthday.

"The Bale Man" as he has been dubbed, is also raising money for Shropshire Rural Support.

Rogers was "loved by everybody", Firmstone said, adding that "doing this in his memory makes me very proud".

Rogers, 26, died after he was hit on the B4368 near Craven Arms in the early hours of 30 April 2022.

The driver of the van which hit him was later given a community order and a driving ban after pleading guilty to failing to stop and failing to report the crash.

Rogers was a keen rugby player and met Firmstone at William Brookes School in Much Wenlock, when they were 12.

"Our friendship grew until we were adults and unfortunately until the end, but this is a great way to celebrate his life," Firmstone said.

"So far I've done four 10Ks, a 5K parkrun and a few walks up the Wrekin," Firmstone said.

His friend would have found the challenge "bonkers" and "absolutely nuts," he added.

"It's hard," Firmstone said of running with the hay bale. "Each step, it's just an unnatural running position; obviously 20 kilos [extra] in weight, so your whole body's posture is changing."

While running with the bale felt like a "mental battle", Firmstone said "thinking of why we're doing it" and the memory of his friend were getting him through the runs.

The hay bale is a nod to Rogers' career as an agricultural contractor and sheep shearer.

His family have been supporting Firmstone's efforts and chose the charity Shropshire Rural Support to receive the funds.

"Will was my golden boy, such a character - quick-witted, very caring," said Rogers' mum, Mandy Oliver.

Asked what her son would think of Firmstone's challenge, Oliver added: "He'd think [Firmstone] was a complete and utter nutter.

"He would also be absolutely blown away that anybody could do something in his memory.

"I think Will's there on his shoulder - it's probably why the bale is so heavy!"

Firmstone asked the family which charity they would like the challenge to be in aid of, she explained.

"The work [Shropshire Rural Support] does is absolutely magnificent," Oliver said.

"By doing things like this [...] Will is still here - you can't take Will's spirit away and Lee is living proof of that."

Shropshire Rural Support offers confidential help for people in countryside communities, like farmers, during times of stress and anxiety.

Kate Jones, from the charity, said current challenges for the industry such as drought and animal disease could take a toll on the mental health of people in the sector.

Fundraising efforts were "absolutely vital", she said, adding that it "keeps that lifeline open for our farming and rural community".

"Donations enable us to train volunteers, answer those calls and make the visits to people who are struggling," she added.

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