Withernsea mayor Kristina Richardson is looking for 99 people to join her in what she admits may be her “wildest challenge yet” – walking barefoot over hot coals to raise money for new lifesaving equipment on the prom.
Cllr Richardson will lead a firewalk as part of her Coastal Community Safety event on Friday, November 6, with funds raised going towards installing throw lines along Withernsea’s seafront.
The Gazette team has already agreed to take the plunge – or rather, the fiery steps – alongside her. A number of other local groups and businesses have also signed up, including the Golden Haddock, local bikers, Premier Shop N Save Withernsea, fellow councillors, Shores Homecare, Castle Café, Withernsea Lions, Richardson Electrical and Rosy Leaf cafe.
TownSMART, Tesco, the Shores Centre, Withernsea Lighthouse, the Withernsea Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club and the Friends of St Nicholas are among others discussing or confirming teams.
There is no sign-up fee, no minimum sponsorship target and no minimum or maximum team size, although the event itself is limited to 100 firewalkers.
Cllr Richardson said the challenge formed part of the Coastal Community Safety initiative she established at the beginning of her civic year instead of selecting a single mayor’s charity.
She said: “So many charities, groups, organisations, services and individuals already do incredible work across our community, and safety touches the remit of so many of them. I simply couldn’t choose just one.
“Instead, I wanted the projects I lead, the money I raise and the causes I support throughout my year to come together around one shared purpose – working in partnership with our community, recognising that every one of us has a part to play.
“Most importantly, I wanted what we achieve together to leave a legacy.”
Money raised through the firewalk will be pooled towards the installation of throw lines along the promenade. Groups that raise enough to fund a complete installation, or more than one, could have their contribution recognised with a plaque alongside the equipment.
Cllr Richardson said she had deliberately not set an overall fundraising target.
“My target is simply this: we do our best, we raise as much as we can and together we turn that total into something that could one day help save a life,” she said.
The Coastal Community Safety event will run from 4pm to 7pm, and the firewalk itself will begin at 6pm, finishing ahead of a 6.45pm fireworks display sponsored by Shop N Save.
The event will be led by the Fundraising Firewalk Association, which has supported more than 100,000 people in completing firewalks.
Participants must be at least 12 years old.
