Cutting edge challenge to test mettle of hospice fundraisers
September 22, 2011
Intrepid fundraisers are being invited to bare their soles for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice this November when the charity stages its second fire walk - but with an added dimension.
The Selly Park-based hospice, which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses in Birmingham and Sandwell, is staging a fire and glass walk on Thursday, November 17.
Participants will be encouraged to conquer their fears and step across a bed of hot coals before taking on a path of broken glass wearing nothing on their feet.
There will also be an exciting warm-up session in which fundraisers will be given a chance to test their mettle by breaking arrows with their necks and splitting pieces of wood in two with a simple karate chop.
Hospice Head of Fundraising and Marketing Caroline Taylor said November’s charity challenge would be a life-changing event.
“Due to the immense success of our first fire walk earlier this year we knew we had to stage another one, but needed something to raise the stakes for participants. So we’ve added in the very daunting challenge of walking across shards of broken glass in addition to 500C burning embers,” she said.
Caroline added: “This will be a life-changing evening, helping people to build confidence in ways they never imagined possible. And beating your fears by walking across hot coals and broken glass is a great way to empathise with the challenges our patients face for each day that they have to live with a life-limiting illness,” she said.
Around 40 brave people took part in the February fire walk, raising a fantastic £8,000 towards the care of Birmingham St Mary’s patients and their relatives.
The event, which is being run by professionals Survivorbility Ltd, will take place at 6.30pm on Thursday, November 17, in the grounds of the Hospice in Selly Park. If you would like further information, please contact Alice Watts on 0121 472 1191 or at alice.watts@bsmh.org.uk.
Each year Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice cares for around 1,000 people with terminal conditions, the majority of whom are looked after in their homes, surrounded by family and friends.
Fundraisers need to find more than £2.5 million annually towards the £6.6 million running costs of the Hospice. Around £1 million of the total is raised by the charity’s nine shops with the remainder of funding coming from the NHS.
