Press release -
35 people from across Bristol walk over hot coals for stroke
6th March 2015
35 people from across Bristol walk over hot coals for stroke
35 people from Bristol took part in a Firewalk in the City centre on the 27th February 2015.Together they walked around 1,400 feet over hot coals to raise around £3,500 for the Stroke Association.
The firewalk involves walking bare foot across 20 feet of hot coals burning at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit which is hotter than the melting point of aluminium. Everyone who signed up received a one-hour training session from a Guinness World Record holder for the world's longest firewalk.
Melissa Rimell from the Stroke Association said “It was a great evening, thankfully the rain stayed away.Everyone who took part had a great time and many people completed the course two or three times.”
One lady who took part was Sinead Carter who works in a Stroke unit, said:
“I wanted to do the Firewalk as I want to help raise money but also awareness of the good work the Stroke Association do. I work on a Stroke Unit and witness people's lives turned upside down following a Stroke on a daily basis, and the courage it takes for them begin to recover. I wanted to do something I was scared of as a show of respect to all the people I have worked with who have embarked upon the often daunting journey following an unexpected Stroke.
I really enjoyed the night and you could feel the buzz between all of the Firewalkers. We were all there for our own reasons but united by the cause and everyone did themselves proud! The coals were pretty scary especially when they measured the temperature at 600 C but there was so much enthusiasm I barely noticed them under my feet and we all ended up walking twice.”
Around 1,000 people have a stroke in Bristol every year and over 8,000 people are living with the effects of stroke. The money raised at the event will be used by the Stroke Association to continue its work in providing support to stroke survivors and their families.
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For interviews, photographs or more information, please contact Cheryl Randeria on 07810 697957.
Photo caption. Our team of firewalkers
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A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. There are around 152,000 strokes in the UK every year and it is the leading cause of severe adult disability. There are over 1.2 million people in the UK living with the effects of stroke.
Stroke Association is a charity. We believe in life after stroke and together we can conquer stroke. We work directly with stroke survivors and their families and carers, with health and social care professionals and with scientists and researchers. We campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best recovery they can. We fund research to develop new treatments and ways of preventing stroke. The Stroke Helpline (0303 303 3100) provides information and support on stroke. More information can be found at www.stroke.org.uk
