Employees At Wrexham Firm Walk On Hot Coals For Nightingale House

Employees at a Wrexham business data firm have walked over hot coals to raise funds for a local hospice.

65 employees from Avox in Wrexham took part in the fiery challenge at the Ramada Plaza Hotel last month raising an impressive £1,405 in the process.

Chris Jones, an Avox employee, arrived early to see the fire raging. He said “I turned up with another firewalker half an hour earlier to see the fire in its just lit, raging state; it was a bit strange to think we’d be walking on it in a few hours!”

A fire guide named Steve who had once been a survival expert with the Armed Forces took the group through some exercises to overcome their fear. Then the group were instructed to take off their shoes and socks and line up ready to take the challenge.

Chris said: “Despite a gut feeling not to, I strode up and over the hot coals and the only feeling was like walking on warm sand. It was a great activity, we all had fun and raised money for a good cause.”

The team from Avox presented a cheque for £1,405 to Margaret Hollings and Catherine Byrne from Nightingale House.

David Ulotti, HR Assistant at Avox said: “We have been supporting Nightingale House Hospice for the last few years. Around this time each year we take part in the Chester Dragon Boat Race, however this year we decided to do something a bit different and came up with the idea of fire walking.

“Out of the 211 people we have working here, 65 agreed to take part in the event and we’re really pleased with the amount that we have raised. This is the most money that we have ever raised from a single event and it is going to such a great and deserving local cause. They are so appreciative of every penny they get so it’s nice to know that we have made a difference.”

Margaret Hollings, Fundraising and Events Manager for the Hospice, said “We’d like to thank all the employees at Avox for the money they raised and for the innovative path they took to do it. We really do appreciate every penny that is raised and every penny goes towards patient care at the Hospice.”