The city centre-based charity, known for its mind-over-matter fundraising challenges, asked brave ‘soles’ to take to the coals for its first fundraising event of 2024.
Crowds gathered at 6.30pm on Thursday 25th January at the historic St. Ann’s Square, as We Love MCR’s courageous fundraisers prepared to walk across red-hot wood embers in aid of Manchester’s communities and young people.
The charity upped the stakes from its previous firewalkin 2021 – the first of its kind in Manchester city centre – by adding an extra lane of fire for brave walkers to conquer. Firewalking expert Cliff Mann from TIME4CHANGE returned to Manchester oversee the event and coach nervous participants once again.
And, adding to the atmosphere this time was international samba reggae band Batala, whose ferocious drumming served as a dramatic soundtrack to the night’s events, giving firewalkers a drumbeat to march to.
Simon Wright, the new Head of We Love MCR Charity, took to the coals as his first fundraising event for the charity. He said: “Since joining We Love MCR in September 2023, I’ve been looking forward to getting involved in some exciting fundraising events. I couldn’t have asked for a better first challenge than a trial by fire right in the heart of the city.
We’d like to thank our brilliant participants for once again rising to the challenge and raising more than £25,000 in aid of Manchester’s communities and young people. We truly couldn’t do it without your support.”
Joanne Roney OBE, CEO of Manchester City Council, also took part in support of We Love MCR Charty and raised the biggest amount so far, nearly £4,000.
The funds raised from the firewalk will go towards We Love MCR’s life-changing support across the city, with its two main grant-giving programmes.
The one-of-a-kind Rising Stars Fund gives disadvantaged young Mancunians the financial support they need to realise their ambitions, changing the lives of 74 young people in 2023. Meanwhile, the Stronger Communities Fund helps fund grassroots community projects, 56 of which We Love MCR supported last year.
For more information, or to sign up for news about We Love MCR’s next fundraising challenge, head to https://www.welovemcrcharity.org/
