Chartered Accountants Feel the Heat - Walk Over Hot Coals.....for Charity & Raise €10,000

Over fifty members of the Chartered Accountants Cork Society excelled in mind over matter when they took a walk over hot coals in an effort to raise money for two Cork charities – the Shine Centre for Autism and Cork Simon Community.

As darkness fell over the Maryborough Hotel, over one hundred people gathered in the glow of the hot coals to witness the Cork accountants follow the centuries old healing and initiation ritual of Firewalking.  Their efforts helped to raise over €10,000.

The Firewalking initiative was the idea of a Chartered Accountants Cork Society committee that wanted to do something a little bit different that would get the entire Society in Cork involved.  According to Anthony Reidy, Chairman Chartered Accountants Cork Society, “We wanted to catch the imagination of our members and the public to raise awareness of both our Society and most importantly the two worthwhile charities involved”.

Spectators and Firewalkers alike were treated to a post-Firewalk reception hosted by the Chartered Accountants Cork Society.

Thanking the Firewalkers – and their sponsors, for their efforts, Kieran Kennedy, CEO Shine Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have been one of the organisations chosen by the Chartered Accountants and the money will be put to good use.  It is great to see the Cork Society take their Corporate Social Responsibility so seriously, we really see partnering with organisations like them as the way forward for successful fundraising”

Cork Simon’s Acting Director, Aaron O’Connell, described the Firewalkers as “brave and courageous”.  He said, “This is the kind of creativity and imagination we need to help tackle homelessness effectively.  The Firewalkers believed in themselves – and by doing so showed that they believe in people.  A little bit of confidence in others – a belief that people can and do overcome the traumatic impacts of homelessness, can go a long way in helping make that happen.”

Thanking everyone who participated and supported the Firewalk, Anthony Reidy - Chairman Chartered Accountants Cork Society, said: “We had a fantastic buy in from our membership who got behind the event from the very start. Not everyone could participate but we have had fantastic support in terms of sponsorship and fundraising from everyone in the Cork Society.”