On a crisp February evening, under the twinkling lights of St. Ann’s Square, 25 brave souls gathered to take on the ultimate mind-over-matter challenge: a Firewalk. This wasn’t just about walking on hot coals—it was about stepping up for Manchester.
The air buzzed with excitement as friends, family, and supporters cheered on our fearless participants. Among them were the Lord Mayoress Karen Andrews, our Trustee and Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Carmine Grimshaw (pictured below), and colleagues from our partners including Manchester City Council, JMW, Softcat, and Manchester Law Society.
Once again, we were joined by the award-winning drum band Batala Manchester, whose ferocious beats soundtracked the evening and added an electric energy to the night.
Among the crowd was Tolu, one of our Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund recipients and a professional photographer, who took every picture you see in this story. Through Tolu’s lens, we captured the determination in every step, the joy in every smile, and a sense of excitement that ran through the even. (Tolu's Instagram page)
Thanks to the incredible efforts of our Firewalkers and the generosity of their supporters, we’ve raised over £5,500 (including Gift Aid) so far—and the donations are still coming in! These funds will go directly toward supporting young people and communities across Manchester, creating opportunities and building a brighter future for all.
We’re incredibly grateful to St. Ann’s Church, Manchester City Council’s Events team, and the Markets team for their support in making this event possible. A huge thank you also goes to Cliff and Darren from Time4Change, who expertly organised the Firewalk for us for the third time.
To everyone who took part, donated, or cheered from the sidelines: thank you. You’ve helped make this event a success yet again.
If you missed this year’s Firewalk, don’t worry—there’s always next year! Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on future events. And if you’d like to support our work, you can still donate to the Firewalk 2025 campaign here: JustGiving Campaign Page.
Together, we’re walking the walk for Manchester!
Our next event is the Great Manchester Run VIP Experience, with free places in the 10K and half-marathon for our fundraisers. Sign up and full info here.
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