Firewalkers raise £7,000 for African school charity

FEARLESS fundraisers  raised over £7,000 for a Frome charity in a firewalking event last month.

More than 150 people went along to a special firewalk evening at Frome College, with 35 daring locals walking on hot coals to raise sponsorship. The event was hosted by SOS Africa which runs schools for disadvantaged children in Africa. Both the Mayor of Frome, cllr Toby Eliot, and David Warburton MP took part in the main event.

SOS Africa director Matt Crowcombe said, “We have smashed our  £5,000 fundraising target! A big thank you to all 35 firewalkers; the supporters; the volunteers; John, Ida and Steph from Frome FM; Nick and Mary from Denelas; local businesses who supported the raffle; and Fusion Gym and Frome College for supporting this event.

“The funds raised, combined with the support of SOS Africa’s new corporate sponsor, will now enable us to open a new education centre in Somerset West – a town in Western Cape, South Africa – in 2017.

“This centre will provide education and care to up to 30 children each year throughout the afternoons and learning support for up to 50 children with learning difficulties throughout the mornings.”

The firewalkers have so far raised over £7600, with the two top fundraisers, Terence Stevens-Prior and Kim Williams, raising a huge £877 and £762.

Children learning with SOS Africa will be holding a draw in a few weeks to decide which fundraiser will win two flights to South Africa to visit the centre and meet the children whose lives the new school will change.

The charity will also be holding its ‘Nominate an inmate’ event, which last year saw David Warburton MP put behind bars for 24 hours, at Shepton Mallet prison in the spring.

For more information go to www.sosafrica.com or visit the charity’s shop on Cheap Street.