AIR AMBULANCE TURNING UP THE HEAT WITH CHARITY FIREWALK AT STORMONT GROUNDS

Are you ready to take on an extraordinary challenge for a life-saving cause?

Air Ambulance Northern Ireland invites you to participate in its exhilarating charity firewalk event on the evening of Friday, March 28, 2025, at the historic Stormont grounds in Belfast. Generously sponsored by Scotts Fuels, this unique event gives you the opportunity for 100 people to walk across 15 feet of fiery coals while supporting the essential air ambulance service.

For those unfamiliar with a firewalk, it is a unique experience focused on challenge, empowerment, and personal growth. It starts with a one-hour training session on walking across hot coals, which can reach temperatures up to 500c. Professional firewalk facilitators will build a fire of hard wood logs, which burn down to produce embers, they are then raked down and the fire walk is ready! Participants remove their shoes and step onto the glowing embers, often finding the sensation similar to walking on warm sand or soft eggshells, with many reporting little to no pain. Preparation is simple—clean feet and a clear mind are recommended.

Participants will celebrate their success with a sumptuous meal in the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, a rare opportunity to enjoy an evening in this prestigious location. Registration for the event including training and post challenge meal in Stormont is just £60 www.airambulanceni.org/firewalk/ with a suggested fundraising target of £150.

This is the perfect individual or corporate team building challenge, with mental and physical training provided by UK Firewalk host, Scott Bell, two-time firewalk Guinness World Record Breaker.

Robert Scott from the events sole sponsor Scott Fuels, said about the upcoming event “At Scotts Fuels, we are proud to support Air Ambulance and their vital work in our community. Sponsoring the charity firewalk event is a meaningful way for us to contribute, and we are excited to see participants take on this unique challenge. We encourage everyone to join in, share this experience, and help raise essential funds for a cause that truly saves lives. Together, we can make a difference!”

Area Fundraising Manager, Katrina Hughes, said, “This year our service is likely to be needed approximately 700 times. Every call needs the support of the public in fundraising, and this is a great opportunity to take on a new challenge. We are incredibly grateful to Scotts Fuels for their generous sponsorship, we encourage everyone to sign up and join us in this unique experience – together, we can save lives!”

Air Ambulance NI, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, serves as a vital resource for communities across the province. They provide the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), which operates seven days a week for twelve hours each day.

Jamie, 23, from Warrenpoint, Co Down, collapsed from cardiac arrest while out for coffee with friends. Quick-thinking locals performed CPR, and his friends called 999. The Air Ambulance medical crew, alongside NIAS, arrived swiftly, treated and stabilised him before rushing him to hospital. Thanks to everyone’s combined efforts, Jamie’s life was saved.

Jamie is deeply grateful to the strangers and professionals who intervened that fateful day. Having experienced first-hand the critical role of the Air Ambulance, he now feels compelled to help ensure this life-saving service remains available for others in their moment of need. “I never thought I’d be the one who needed the Air Ambulance, and certainly not while sitting in a coffee shop. But life can change in an instant. I’ll be forever grateful that the Air Ambulance was there for me when it did.”

On average, the medical team responds to calls twice daily for various incidents, including serious road traffic collisions, farm or workplace accidents, sports and leisure-related incidents, and medical emergencies. As a local charity, Air Ambulance NI relies on public generosity to maintain and sustain its essential services, aiming to raise £2.5 million annually through public donations. To achieve this, they encourage people to sign up and participate in their fundraising events throughout the year.