Hospiscare’s Firewalk is a sizzling success

Supporters from across the heart of Devon braved the blaze for their 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 at Winslade Park where participants were guided over hot coals by experienced Firewalk trainers.

With over 100 spectators cheering on family and friends in their efforts to conquer the coals and stunning displays from fire performers Samantha and Nerea, the event was a sizzling success, raising £31,567.86 for local end-of-life care with money still coming in.

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 said: “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.

She said: “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.”