Firewalk - Canary Wharf, London
This is our Strokecast from one of our new Firewalk events. We speak to a couple of brave participants before they walk burning hot coals, and see how one of them felt after.
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005: Firewalk - Canary Wharf
Listen to the brave souls who walk barefoot over burning hot coals
Text version of the podcast:
This episode features Keith and Katie from The Stroke Association, as well as Lyn and Jamie; two of our very brave fundraisers.
Keith: Hello and welcome to another Strokecast. I’m at a Marriott hotel in West India Quay, but this isn’t for a cushy night’s stay. Tonight is The Stroke Association’s Firewalk. Our fundraisers will be braving a 600°C path of smouldering coals to raise money for a great cause. Here’s Katie to tell you more.
Katie: I’m Katie Hammond, I’m the Regional Fundraising Manager in London.
Keith: What are we doing here today?
Katie: It’s a sponsored firewalk; we’ve got 22 people signed up. They’ll have an hour’s training, and then they head outside to walk barefoot over hot coals.
Keith: Is this something you’ve tried before yourself?
Katie: I did actually do it at our event in Southampton last week, yes. And my feet survived to tell the tale!
Keith: You didn’t to have to run into the sea or anything like that?
Katie: Nope! No, there are buckets of cold water though, for anyone who wants them at the end.
Keith: What was the inspiration behind the firewalk?
Katie: The Regional Events Team are always looking for new and fun events that we can put on to encourage new people to support The Stroke Association. I think with this [event] we’re just looking for people [who are] looking for a new challenge and who like to raise the old adrenaline.
Keith: Thanks to Katie there. So before our brave participants walk the coals, let’s catch up with to see how they’re feeling.
Lyn: My name is Lyn Scarf, I’m a stroke survivor. I had my stroke three and a half years ago, and in the last two years, that’s when I’ve been doing voluntary work.
Keith: So today you’re doing the firewalk?
Lyn: Yes.
Keith: Are you feeling nervous about that?
Lyn: No, I’m not worried about it at all.
Keith: [surprised laugh] Really?!
Lyn: No I’m not worried about it – I just think, well, I would have never done it before and now – why have I got to worry? I’ve got nothing to lose now. It’s got to be a good day, and the money I’m getting, it’s for The Stroke Association, I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.
Keith: That’s very admirable, your bravery [that is]. I’ve made many excuses so that I don’t have to do it myself.
Lyn: I know – a few people I know have said, “You’re mad. You’ve got to be off your head, you can’t do this!”
But, when I did the abseiling, my mum thought I was going to fall and drop dead, [laughs] I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought ‘yes!’ I’ll do it again.
Keith: That’s fantastic, well we’ll try and catch you afterwards so we can find out how it went.
Lyn: I’m sure it’ll be fine – I’ve got new flip-flops in my bag in case I’ve got blisters, so I’m alright.
Keith: Good luck Lyn!
Lyn: OK, thanks ever so much.
Jamie: Hi, my name is Jamie; I’m doing the firewalk for The Stroke Association in Canary Wharf. My Mum had a stroke eight years ago and that’s why I’m doing it for charity.
Keith: That’s great, so are you feeling nervous at all?
Jamie: I’m probably feeling a bit overconfident – I’m quite excited now to do it, but I’m a bit nervous as well.
Keith: You’ve just come out of the training session haven’t you? So are you feeling any different as a result?
Jamie: Probably a little bit less nervous because there’s lots of us in there, so yeah, a bit less nervous.
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Keith: So as you’ve just heard, the training is over. We’re now outside standing in the shadow of Canary Wharf in a slightly damp evening.
Lyn, Jamie and all of our participants are now strolling over the firepath without a second thought.
I’m quite surprised to see them walking around this really, really very hot trail three, four or five times.
I’m actually amazed by this feat of courage (no pun intended). They don’t appear to feel the heat at all.
Keith: OK, Lyn, so you’ve just finished your firewalk, how are you feeling now?
Lyn: It was brilliant, it was good. The first time I didn’t really know what to expect, but it was OK. Then when we had the second go it was brilliant, and the third and the fourth time, it was great, it was really, really good.
Keith: I remember [when watching] you weren’t too sure about going around again, but then I saw you going back and going for another go.
Lyn: Yeah I had another go, and that was it, done then. But yeah, it was good. It didn’t burn, it didn’t hurt your feet in any way at all. It was good, first of all I thought there was going to be blisters and that it was going to be really hot and it wasn’t. It was so easy, I should’ve done it before.
Keith: Would you recommend it to other people?
Lyn: Definitely. If someone tells you, you think, “What do I want to do that for?”
But till you’ve tried it… You have to try again and again, try something else don’t you?
Keith: That’s great Lyn, do you think we’ll see you here again?
Lyn: Oh yeah, definitely. You know what I’m like, I’ll put my hand up and yeah, I’ll have a go, and it’s for a good reason.
Keith: That’s great Lyn, thank you very much.
Keith: Thanks for tuning in to another Strokecast from The Stroke Association. Many thanks to Jamie, Lyn and Katie, and of course all our participants who braved those hot coals. We’ll be back with another Strokecast for you soon.
