When Helena Brown moved back to the UK after years spent travelling the world as a flight attendant, she was at a loss over what to do next with her life.
A fitness fanatic, she trained to be a personal trainer and was offered a job at David Lloyd. But she still found herself searching for something more.
During the coronavirus lockdown in 2020, Helena decided to join Greater Manchester Fire Service. She is one of 106 female firefighters serving the region - and is now a national champion. Try ME N Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features Making the grade to join the brigade was tough - she feared she would never make it as her grasp of maths is shaky - but she is shaping up as a role model for women thinking of joining the service.
Now, her ambitions are soaring. "Next I want to be a trauma technician and then a driver, and only when I have mastered all the skills required as a firefighter I would like to be a crew manager," she said.
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