Features

Flame Embers

Sedgley firewalk

When it comes to charity events, I always do my share.

Preparing for the walk

But I had to draw the line at the fire walking spectacular at the Sedgley Working Men’s Club on Sunday October 22nd 2006.

Organised to raise money for Compton Hospice in Wolverhampton, 15 sponsored volunteers had stepped forward to walk barefoot across 12 feet of burning embers, in the tradition of ancient Indian shamans.

Overseen by Blaze – the Nottingham based firm who specialise in fire walks - the first order of the day was the warm up, if you will.

Martin Sterling

Nothing too taxing - just a fifteen foot barefoot walk along broken glass!

Blaze

The group was given an hour's motivational talk by Martin Sterling from Blaze to mentally prepare them.

Martin, a student of martial arts, first witnessed the art of walking on fire and glass when travelling in India in 1983 and has done over 2,700 walks himself. 

"I was fascinated by the whole concept," he says. "Nothing was really being done like that in England so I decided to launch a program over here.

Glass walking

"The Indian rituals were all about spiritual dances and trances. It was a great spectacle but I thought to make it more accessible to westerners I needed to focus more on the power of the mind.

"We specialise now in charity events like this. Since 1984, I've never had an injury or anyone drop out after I've mentally prepared them.

"The principles for preparing people to walk over both fire and glass are the same. It's all about perception and reality, overcoming fear."

Compton Hospice

Michelle Price

Indeed, the glass walk - an impressive spectacle in itself - went without a hitch, but clearly walking across a bed of burning embers was the main event of the evening.

With Martin and the group back behind closed doors for two hours' worth of preparation for the fire walk, Michelle Price of Compton Hospice, organiser of the event, explains her unique choice of fund raising.

"We did this last year and had such a great response that I thought we'd have to do it again," she says.

The test

"Compton Hospice is one of the biggest hospices in the Midlands and the support we get from the local community is so very much appreciated.

"People want something new and original – so what better than fire walking?" she laughs. "We added the glass this year to really let people enjoy the day for longer. I'm looking into lying on beds of nails for next year!"

Curious

Meanwhile outside the club, Blaze are busy getting the fire walk set up. Approximately 12 feet long with embers burning at over 1,200 degrees, it's already an amazing site.

But I'm still curious – seriously how do people walk barefoot across this thing without getting hurt?

"It’s about two ideas," says Jo Marriott from Blaze. "The first – which is what Martin is doing now – is teaching people how to overcome their fear. The belief that this is impossible is wrong; it's entirely possible.

Richard Lockley

"Secondly, it's really just physics. The best analogy I can give is if you take a baking hot jacket potato out of the oven you will burn your hand. But if you juggle the potato with both hands at the right speed, it will feel warm but you'll be unharmed. The principle is the same for fire walking."

The Main Event

With dozens of friends and family members having gathered around, the guys emerge to a booming response. A mixture of adrenaline, excitement and intense concentration are keeping them focused.

After a Blaze representative has successfully tested the fire walk and given it the stamp of approval, one by one they briskly walk across the embers, with the crowd cheering wildly.

Catching them as they come off, the response is always the same:

Sandra Haddock

"That was awesome," says Bruce. "A great rush – you feel invincible."

"I didn't know what to expect but – wow – what a feeling," says Richard. "I'd do it again, no question. Hell, I'll do it backwards if they'll let me!"

"I was a little nervous but once you're walking you can't stop," says Gina. "A great experience – I'm so glad I did it."

Life skills

And, sure enough, just as Martin predicted, there are no injuries and no drop-outs.

"I'm proud of them all," he smiles. "The skills they learned today can be applied to any area of life. Whenever you start to let fear into your mind, you'll doubt yourself. Today proves that we can all overcome anything."

Rob Gamble

Looking at the proud expressions on the faces of the walkers as Michelle hands them their certificates, I'm inclined to agree with him.

I even wish I'd done it now…