Would you walk over hot coals at The Myton Hospices Firewalk?

WHAT EXACTLY IS A FIREWALK?

The participants will undergo training of around one hour. When the fire has burned to red-hot embers it is raked level and prepared for the walk. Participants go to the fire – remove their footwear and one by one are invited to walk the coals.

IS IT A TRICK?

No. The fire is very real. The embers will be glowing red-hot – we can often measure the temperature at around 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. You will have bare feet, and they will not have been treated in any way.

WILL IT HURT?

The sensation is described by some as walking on eggshells, others as walking on hot sand. Each walker has his or her own experience. UK Firewalk have not known walkers to experience pain, indeed when the opportunity arises many will walk across the coals more than once.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

There is no preparation to undertake. No treatment of the feet or mental exercise, just the training provided at the seminar. You should abstain from the consumption of alcohol or drugs prior to the event. Any person who is in the opinion of the trainer unfit to participate will NOT be permitted to take part.

HOW MUCH IS IT?

Each participant will be required to pay £20 upon registration and will be asked to agree to raise a minimum of £100 sponsorship for The Myton Hospices. If you have not raised the £100 sponsorship by Friday 5th November you may not be able to take part. Please contact events@mytonhospice.org if you have any queries.

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?

There is no strenuous physical exercise involved. If you can walk normally then you should manage the Firewalk perfectly well. If you have any doubts, please consult your GP before attending.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?

There is no special clothing required. Casual comfortable clothes are best. Please remember fires can be quite dirty and clothes may become ash stained. Footwear needs to be easy to remove and will need to be replaced before going back indoors so a hand towel might be a good idea. Flip flops are a good idea, especially if the ground is cold. Nail varnish and toe rings are fine.

MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS?

We have had many people walk who are pregnant, have diabetes, Stroke survivors, visually impaired and those with many other conditions. None have been an issue, however we always recommend if in doubt to seek advice from your doctor.

IS IT SAFE?

There is an inherent risk in any activity involving fire. It is important that participants pay attention to all the training and heed the advice and instruction of the trainer, firewatchers and spotters. Whilst absolute safety is not guaranteed proper procedure reduces risk to the achievable minimum.

WILL I BE HYPNOTISED?

No. There is no hypnotism involved. You will be fully awake at all times – indeed you will be more alert than usual. You may also withdraw at any time if you wish.

AGE RESTRICTIONS?

Normally 12 years +. All we ask is if under 18 that they are mature enough to listen to the training and will require a parent or guardian to sign a form.

ALL WALKERS SHOULD READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE GUIDELINES BEFORE STARTING A FIREWALK.

• Walkers must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• All walkers should be well hydrated (drink plenty of water).
• If you are tired, stressed or recovering from illness you will be less focused and have an increased risk of receiving a blister.
• Please ensure your feet are clean and free from massage and pedicure oils.
• No one is forced to walk on fire and we will not allow peer pressure.
• Firewalking can be dangerous, however UK FIREWALK have never had a walker who has required medical treatment from our charity, public or corporate events.

For further information visit: www.ukfirewalk.com or e-mail info@ukfirewalk.com

All Firewalkers must pay a £20 registration fee and commit to raise £100 in sponsorship.

Your registration fee covers the cost of the event, but it is your sponsorship money which makes the difference to our patients and their families.

All participants will receive a Firewalk 2022 t-shirt and limited edition mug on completion of your challenge and raising a minimum of £100.

To hit our £20,000 fundraising target this money we rely entirely on you raising sponsorship and if all of this year’s Fire Walk participants raised £100 or more, we would hit this target.

Whether you choose to fundraise or make a donation in lieu, have a look at the difference the money will make to the people Myton cares for:

£50 covers the cost of two hours specialist nursing care

£84 will fund a patient’s meals for one week

£106 will fund a Myton at Home nurse to visit a patient at home

£175 is the upkeep cost of our relatives’ accommodation for a week

£460 will fund an inpatient bed for one day

£2,000 would buy a patient specific recliner chair to enable patients to spend time out of bed

Online Fundraising

You can rarely scroll through social media these days without seeing a fundraising page, and that is because it is one of the most effective and easiest ways of encouraging your family, friends and colleagues to sponsor you. By setting up a JustGiving page you can easily share your fundraising efforts and progress on Facebook and Twitter as often as you want to. Having an online fundraising page also means you do not have to physically collect money after the event – it comes straight to us – and Gift Aid is automatically calculated and processed.

Facebook Fundraising

Please let us know, by emailing the Events Team, if you set up a Fundraiser on Facebook; we receive limited information from Facebook which makes it extremely hard for us to link the donation to your fundraising otherwise.

Match Funding

These are two words charities love to hear! Many employers offer match funding which means they will match what you have raised (to a certain amount), potentially doubling what you raise for Myton! Why not speak to your employer to find out if this is something they will do?

Gift Aid

UK tax payers can raise an additional 25% through Gift Aid at no extra cost to themselves. To ensure we can claim Gift Aid we need the full name, home address and post code of your sponsors – and of course don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box!

Fundraising inspiration

Myton’s mission is to be here for everyone who needs us – from people who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness - to their loved ones and carers.

Last year, despite the challenges which limited our ability to offer some of our services, we still supported 1,500 people and their families, in our hospices, via our patient & family support services, and in the community through Myton at Home.

With a staggering £9.1 million to be raised through fundraising to ensure Myton can continue to exist and be there for people with life limiting and terminal illnesses, your support is vital. You never know when you, or someone you love, will need a hospice. By raising sponsorship or donating in lieu, you are investing in Myton’s future as well as making a difference to the people who need us right now.