WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE lookout for novel ways to get people to part with their hard-earned cash in the name of charity. So when we stumbled upon the website of an organisation offering charity fire-walking we wanted to know more.

Not only does Blaze Firewalking claim to have invented the concept of a charity firewalk, it also offers a novel selection of similarly hair-raising challenges, like walking on broken glass or breaking arrows with your throat.

In an attempt to safeguard its reputation, Blaze strongly recommends against using unaccredited fire-walking instructors (you know the ones). It even goes so far as to suggest that you steer clear of anyone who starts talking about "chakras, energy, crystals, the brain creating chemical changes in the body allowing us to walk on hot coals… or anything that is not firmly based in easily explainable scientific principles and beliefs".

And yet, while advertising its "hour of power" fundraising workshops, it isn't shy about suggesting you "inspire your workforce with the Spartacus attitude" or, even better, offering to teach you "what to say when you talk to yourself".

Even more intriguing, it offers tips on the use of the "nail soup" metaphor. But undoubtedly our favourite claim is from Blaze’s founder, Martin Sterling, who professes to be known as the "Simon Cowell of firewalking". Which begs the question - is this the man you want teaching you how to walk over hot coals?

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