Relight my fire - Steve Simmonite is braving the hot coals again for ellenor

Swanley shop manager (and well-known name in the Fundraising office) Steve Simmonite is tackling a feat of flames by taking part in our 2016 Firewalk - he's here to tell you why... 

After taking part in ellenor's 2011 Firewalk I'm here to encourage anybody thinking of taking part this year to "go for it!". It's amazing and just dangerous enough to be FUN FUN FUN (no really, it is lots of fun!).

It's hard to describe what it was like walking across the hot 'coals'; I'd say it feels more warm than hot. Everyone is supporting each other and you don't really notice it while you're doing it, but then afterwards you think to yourself "I just did that!".

After my mother died from breast cancer, I was helped by the ellenor bereavement group that meets at Dartford. Shortly after I completed the 2011 Firewalk I joined the ellenor community myself when I began volunteering in the Dartford Priory Centre shop. I was there for 2 years before going on to become the manager of the Swanley shop, where I have been for just over a year. 

During these past few years I have taken part in a few fundraising events for the Hospice, in addition to the Firewalk, I have also raised funds for ellenor by taking part in the 2012 walkathon, 2014 walkathon, and most recently, an abseil from 262 feet over London in 2015! The main reason for doing the Firewalk again this year is to give support to my two sisters, Carol Beer and Susan Simmonite, who will both be joining me this time.

We decided that it was about time we did something a little mad together in memory of our mother, June Simmonite who, toward the end of her 23 year illness, attended Day Therapy on a Thursday at the hospice and loved it.

To anyone that's considering signing up to do the Firewalk this year I would say; it's a silly, daft, mad thing to do, but if you have an opportunity, go and do it - it's an unmissable experience and the amazing feeling you get knowing you are helping the team at your local hospice is so worth it.

Go for it, you won't be sorry you did - it's amazing!

Hope to see you there,

Steve Simmonite

If you would like to secure a place at our Firewalk, on Sunday 2 March at Maidstone Football Club, visit http://ellenor.org/events/event-details/firewalk to register.

To check out our Firewalk video visit: https://youtu.be/Lvn83BbTdZs

To sponsor Steve visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Simmonite1/