DEDICATED nurses at St Luke’s Hospice will do anything for their patients – including walking over hot coals!

Ward manager Liz Freeman, nurse Sam Fallows and nursing assistant Joyce Maclennan have signed up for the seventh annual firewalk to raise money for patient care.

This year’s event starts at 7pm on Friday, November 16 at Sandbach Rugby Club.

Intrepid fundraisers will be given a two-hour motivational training session before they walk 15 foot over scorching wood embers glowing at around 800 degrees fahrenheit!

Nursing assistant Joyce Maclennan said: “I had breast cancer three years ago and since then I’ve always wanted to do something to raise money for St Luke’s. Luckily I managed to talk the other two into doing it with me.

“We didn’t want to leap out of a plane or abseil down a building so this challenge is perfect.

"So far we’ve raised over £600 between us and hope we can raise even more to support the hospice and our patients.”

The firewalk is being run by Cliff Mann from Time4Change who is one of the most experienced firewalking instructors in Europe.

Cliff is a fully qualified hypnotherapist and personal coach and has literally led thousands of people over hot coals during his 20 year career.

Hospice events fundraiser Debra Sloan said: “The firewalk is an amazing challenge – one that has to be experienced to be fully understood!

"If you think you have the courage, determination and willpower to do a firewalk then please join our nurses and help raise vital funds for St Luke’s.

“It’s also an event which may appeal to businesses as it’s a great team bonding experience. There’s still plenty of time to sign up and get sponsorship so please get in touch if you are interested.”

Registration for the firewalk costs £25 and participants are asked to raise a minimum of £150 in sponsorship.

For more information visit St Luke’s stlukes-hospice.co.uk/events/firewalk.

To sponsor the three hospice nurses visit justgiving.com/fundraising/nursesonfire.

Since 1988, St Luke’s has been providing palliative care to local people, supporting them in ways which go beyond the scope and funding of the NHS.

Last year the hospice provided 1,000 local people with a huge range of support from in-patient end of life care to supporting carers.

St Luke's also helped patients return to work after an illness and offered bereavement support to children.

The charity provides all their care free of charge. The hospice relies on the generosity and commitment of supporters to raise more than 80 per cent of their costs.