FIREFIGHTERS who were the first to tackle to the Grenfell Tower fire are running a marathon to raise money for children affected by the tragedy.

Hundreds of heroic emergency workers risked their lives to battle the blaze on June 14, braving blistering heat, darkness and smoke-filled hallways to rescue residents from the 24-storey west-London block.

A team of nine firefighters from red watch at North Kensington fire station will run the London Marathon in April in a bid to generate £10,000 for Kids on the Green, which was set up to support traumatised children.

The volunteer organisation offers free counselling to survivors and witnesses as well as art therapy and entertainment.

On their online campaign page, the North Kensington crew wrote: “In the weeks and months since the fire we have grieved with and stood in solidarity with the survivors and community of Grenfell.”

David Badillo, who has been a firefighter for 18 years in the area, and who will be competing in his second marathon, said: “The heartbreak will never go away but we want to help heal and rebuild, starting with the children so badly affected by the tragedy.”

Zoe Levack, founder and director of Kids on the Green, said the charity is “absolutely honoured, blessed and humbled” to have been chosen.

“We feel quite emotional about it because the fire brigade are heroes in our eyes.

“It’s really exciting and we’ve got nothing but love and support for them.”

The group will soon offer family coaching sessions to help parents whose children are coping with trauma.

Donations to the campaign can be made at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/run4grenfellg27.