21st May 2009

Hot Foot It For Cats Protection

Read more: Cats Charity | Comments (0)

It’s not a challenge for the faint-hearted – a 20ft barefoot walk over burning hot coals – but charity Cats Protection is on the lookout for fearless cat lovers to take part in a sponsored firewalk.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will give participants the chance to walk across wood embers smouldering at 800 degrees without experiencing pain or injury.

A two-hour training session will be given before the event by firewalking experts who will be on hand throughout the evening.

The event, to be held at Brighton Racecourse, will raise cash for Cats Protection, the UK’s largest cat charity which rehomes 52,000 cats every year.

Participants will need to provide £25 registration fee and agree to a fundraising target of £150 in order to take part.

Cats Protection’s Events Organiser Julie Sharp said, “The firewalk is certainly quite a challenge and there’s no doubt participants will have to be pretty brave.

“However, many people who have completed a firewalk talk of how inspirational it is, so we hope that participants will find it a rewarding experience – especially as they will be raising much needed money for Cats Protection.”

Apart from providing the ultimate challenge for thrill-seekers, firewalking is an ancient religious and spiritual practice with the first recorded firewalk taking place in India 3000 years ago.

There are many theories as to why it is possible to walk over hot coals without pain or injury – including the poor heat conductivity of wood, the short contact time between the coals and feet, and adopting a ‘mind over matter’ approach.

Anyone wishing to take part is asked to fill out an application form which can be obtained from Julie Sharp at Cats Protection on 01825 741980 or email fundraising@cats.org.uk. Full fundraising support will be given for the event, which will take place at Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Road, Brighton, from 6pm on Monday, 9 November.

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