Fancy hot-footing it to a firewalking challenge?

BILLED as the hottest event in town, the Debra Ireland Firewalk in the Stillorgan Park Hotel is challenging Southsiders to endure burning coals for children who live their lives in chronic pain. 

Irish skin charity Debra Ireland is giving Dubliners the chance to fire up their personal and business lives by undertaking this New Year challenge on Friday, January 27.

The search is on for individuals and groups brave enough to take a short walk over three metres of wood embers burning at 800 degrees.

“Far from being impossible, fire walking is truly awesome and after doing it you feel you can achieve whatever you are aiming for in life,” said Judith Gilsenan, Head of Fundraising for Debra Ireland.

“It’s an amazingly empowering experience and a chance to ignite your passion and discover what you can really do.

“A firewalk might sound a bit scary but it is people with EB who are the real superheroes and they need our support.”

Debra Ireland supports people in Ireland living with EB (epidermolysis bullosa), an incredibly painful skin condition that causes the skin layers and internal body linings to blister and wound at the slightest touch.

Before undertaking the world’s shortest sponsored walk, participants undergo a two-hour training session of mental and physical preparation.

And organisers say that the skills learned to get people safely through a firewalk are useful long after the event.

“You learn to break through your own limitations and overcome your fears,” said firewalking instructor Brian Moore.

“By conquering the fears that are holding you back you discover power to achieve what you want in any area of your life, be it in your personal relationships, in work, in business or in sport.”

Those taking part in the firewalk are asked to pay a €50 registration fee and raise €200 for Debra Ireland.

Clondalkin based Rachel Connors, mum of Casey (4) who lives with the chronic pain of EB, took part in the firewalk last year.

“People with EB live with constant pain, skin blisters and open wounds,” said Rachel.

“There is currently no cure and the only form of treatment is constant painful bandaging of the skin.

“Debra Ireland is striving to end this heartache by providing support to EB patients and funding research to find treatments and cures for EB and skin cancer.”

Those brave enough to take up Debra’s firewalking challenge should emerge from the experience unscathed but invigorated.

“Afterwards people generally feel absolutely fine,” added firewalker Brian.

“Their feet are usually tingling afterwards like they have been walking on hot sand or gravel.

“Some say their feet feel like they are cold like they’ve been walking on snow, but that’s it.”

To register or find out more about Debra’s Firewalk challenge see www.debraireland.org, email [email protected] or tel (01) 4126924.