Not all heroes wear capes (or even shoes in this case)… This week, we are celebrating a very special group of Hospiscare Heroes: our first ever Firewalkers.
On Thursday 17 October, supporters from across the heart of Devon braved the blaze for our local hospice charity.
The sell-out event saw 80 people walk over hot coals in solidarity with patients and their families living with a terminal illness.
Hospiscare’s first ever Firewalk took place in the stunning grounds of Winslade Park. The evening began at 6:30pm with a seminar from experienced Firewalk trainers where participants were guided through what to expect and developed mantras to help them brave the blaze.
While the participants got fired up in the seminar, the pyre was lit in the grounds with flames and sparks shooting high into the darkening sky, the spectacle rivalled only by the Hunter’s Moon – the largest and brightest full moon of 2024.
As darkness continued to fall, over 100 spectators gathered around the pyre, ready to cheer on family and friends in their efforts to conquer the coals. They were treated to stunning displays from fire performers Samantha and Nerea as the fire burned lower and the Firewalk team began to spread the coals along the hottest runway our supporters have ever faced.
At 8pm, our brave Firewalkers assembled in the grounds and caught their first glimpse of the glowing gauntlet. One by one, they marched proudly over the hot coals, shouting their mantras as the crowd cheered.
The atmosphere on the night was quite literally on fire and it’s safe to say that the event was a sizzling success, raising £31,567.86 for local end-of-life care with money still coming in.
Hospiscare Firewalker Iain Galston braving the blaze
Iain Galston from Okehampton took part in the event to raise funds and awareness for Hospiscare in recognition of the support he and his wife, Lesley, are receiving. Iain explains, “We thought Hospiscare was somewhere you went for the end but now we know it isn’t just a place to die.
“My wife had a stay on the ward to get her pain under control and I was amazed at the place. I’ve never been to a hospice before and didn’t know what to expect – I couldn’t believe how friendly everyone was. I can’t put into words the difference between her hospital stays and her stay at the hospice.
“Although my wife is the patient, I am also being supported by Mark, Hospiscare’s counsellor. Mark has kept me sane. He sits there and listens – he takes it all. I can sound off to him and he never judges me.
“People don’t understand what Hospiscare is here to do. It isn’t just a place where people come to die. I can’t thank the Hospiscare staff enough for all their support for me and Lesley, but I can help raise some desperately needed funds for them.”
Following the distressing news of the charity’s £2.5 million funding deficit, 10 Hospiscare staff members took part in the event to stand by the hospice’s patients and their families.
Hospiscare Doctor Becky Baines braved the blaze with her brother, Ed, in memory of their dad: “It was just the most fantastic experience, so much so that I did it twice!
“When I first heard about the Firewalk, I thought I would be too emotional to take part. It’s only been a few months since Dad died. He spent a week on Hospiscare’s ward before we took him home and he died with all of us there.
“When Hospiscare announced the date of the Firewalk on what would have been Dad’s 88th birthday, it just seemed too good an opportunity to miss. I talked it through with my brother and we thought, let’s go for it. That became the mantra for the night and beyond – just go for it. Don’t put stuff off, just crack on. To be able to do the Firewalk on such an important day for our family was incredible.”
From all of us here at Hospiscare, we would like to thank every person who walked on fire in support of our patients and their families. We would also like to thank all of the incredible people (and dogs!) that attended on the night and showed their support for our brave Firewalkers.
We are also sending our thanks to all of the volunteers and staff that made this event possible and kept everybody safe.
Thank you to the Firewalk team for their expertise and a huge thank you to the event sponsors, Commercial, for their support.
Keep an eye on our social media channels for photos and videos from the event.
