A group of eight brave souls have signed up to walk across hot coals to raise money for the community of Arlesey and to help stop cancer.

The firewalk at the Arlesey Village Fete, to be held at the village’s recreation ground on Saturday, will raise money to be split equally between the Arlesey Community Events Group and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The firewalk will take place at 4pm, with the fete also boasting a Spitfire flypast, a balloon race, Stotfold Twirlers and much more.

Arlesey town councillor and community events group committee member Sandra Sarll is among those getting ready to march across the burning embers.

She said: “I wanted to help raise money to be able to put on bigger, better and even more events for the community. The money raised will be split between the events group and Macmillan Cancer Support to help them give support to people – like one of my brothers and my mother, who both died of cancer.

“At 67, I like a challenge every so often just to prove to myself that I am still capable.”

Sharon McBride said: “I’m doing the firewalk with my three friends. One of our friends, Mags, is currently having a ‘punch-up’ with cancer, and has been dealing with it so brilliantly.

“We wanted to pay tribute to Mags and also we are all going through change at work at the moment so we wanted to show we could conquer our fears and tackle anything.

“I’m also on the Arlesey Community Events Group, and we need funds to achieve charity status so we can do even more for the village.”

Kate Prince, of Fairfield Park, added: “I’m looking forward to this challenge before my birthday on September 3.

“My dad was supported by Macmillan nurses during his successful treatments for bowel cancer a few years ago, and so I hope to raise lots of money for this fantastic organisation.”

The firewalk is being organised by instructor Jon Boys – who is running the firewalk free of charge, and is also organising live music for the fete.

He said: “I lost my mother-in law-to cancer and she was supported by Macmillan – as was our business partner Helen, who succumbed to cancer in 2010.

“Helen was one of our firewalk instructor team, and I will walk first. This is very close to my heart.

“A firewalk is purely a metaphorical exercise. It has been practised over thousands of years as a rite of passage or spiritual ritual all over the world.

“In corporate training and charity fundraising it has become highly popular due to the high level of emotional intelligence training required prior to completing the challenge. Once you can walk safely on 600°F hot coals, what else can you do that you thought was impossible in your life?”

If you’d like to donate to the cause, you can give money on the day or online at justgiving.com/arlesey-events-group.