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Firewalking in Grantown!

August 26, 2008

The Shortest Sponsored Walk for Grantown Youth Projects

The Shortest Sponsored Walk for Grantown Youth Drop-in and other Youth Projects

On Saturday 30 August The Square, Grantown on Spey was bursting with flames. But it wasn’t be a bonfire, where everyone stands and looks at it. In fact far from it. 30 Adults were walking bare foot across the 20ft of burning embers that will reach a temperature of 1236 degrees Fahrenheit. Why? We hear you all ask yourselves – well they were raising money for Grantown Youth Drop-in (based in the Grantown YMCA/Community Centre).

A fire walk, is something that anyone over the age of 16 years can take part in, as long as they complete Blaze's 2 hour training session.  It is something different from doing a car boot sale or a sponsored walk.  The fire walk is the challenge of a life time, which we hope will encourage others to get more involved with the Youth Drop-in but also do more exciting activities in their lives.  We believe if we can achieve this, then we can achieve anything. 

Organiser, Jen Tiller, said “As with all charities and voluntary organisations it becomes harder and harder to raise money to continue running. We wanted to do something that would be different and involve adults and young people. Thus, we came up with the Fire Walk idea. It has been really funny finding people to take part. People I speak to are either really up for doing it or they think we are all mad!”

The Fire Walk will take place from 8.30pm in the Square in Grantown, where spectators are very welcome.

Jen Tiller, Youth Development Officer said ‘I’m doing the fire walk with most of the youth workers, two of whom are my little brother and older sister.   We want to show young people that anything is possible and we will keep fighting to keep the Youth Drop-in open.  The Youth Drop-in is very important in the town and we need to work towards further developing the support we can offer to young people, but that is very difficult in this financial climate, where funding for projects is very competitive with the major cities, where they support much larger numbers of people.’

Initially all participants will be involved in a 2 hour long workshop, 'Learn or Burn', in the Grantown YMCA/Community Centre to prepare for the event, then they will be off to do the walk. Each participant must raise a minimum of £50 which goes towards organising the event. The Fire Walk is being Project Managed by BLAZE, who have been organising fire walks for fundraising groups across the UK. They supported a BBC project in September 2007 as well as the scientific programme Braniac in 2006 and the ‘This Morning’ show. The events which will offer a thrilling event to see and take part in as it will be so exciting to see if these 30 adults could really walk across hot coals and how it could possibly be done without burning the soles of their feet.

All the money raised will go towards organising a variety of youth activities in the Grantown Youth Drop-in, as well as other projects in the area. Staffing and transport costs are often very difficult to get funding for and it means that young people have to pay a lot of money, which not all parents can afford. Supporting young people to take part in activities is very important. This summer alone, the Grantown Youth Drop-in was able to offer young people trips to Edinburgh, Go Karts, Sailing, Kayaking, Seaside, Cinema, and lots more. This was part funded by Highland Council through the Ward Discretionary budget. As well as their holiday programme, the Youth Drop-in runs all year round, opening 4 nights per week and opening on a Sunday afternoon.

If you would like to help, there are a variety of ways you can get involved:

For more information just contact Jen on 01479 87 2262/3551 or email Jennifer.tiller@btitnernet.com

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