CROWDS gathered at the University of Worcester to watch 38 people take part in the city’s first firewalk challenge to raise money for Sight Concern Worcestershire.

The event was organised by the charity with the help of the football society at the university.

As part of the challenge, held in the main university campus in St John’s, the group had to walk across 25ft of hot coals after a two-hour seminar to prepare them for their “ordeal”.

The event has already raised several thousands of pounds for Sight Concern as each person who took part had to pay a £15 registration fee and raise a minimum sponsorship of £100.

Jenny Gage, chief officer of Sight Concern, said as a fan of extreme sports, she was probably the “most chilled out” person taking part in the challenge.

She said: “It’s always good to push yourself and get out of your comfort zone. It was a fantastic atmosphere.

“The seminar part was very inspiring. For me, it was really in tune with sight loss and the challenges of it.

“We were all confident to do the challenge but without the help and support of the seminar, none of us would have done it.

“It’s very similar because with the right support, you can help people through the challenges of sight loss.”

She also said as far as she was aware, the firewalk was the first of its type to be held in Worcester and is something that the charity would like to organise again as a fund-raiser in the future.

Before the challenge took place, the supportive crowd was also treated to some live entertainment and music, including drummers and fire jugglers.

Following the challenge, the crowd gathered in the Student’s Union for a much-deserved drink and a certificate presentation for those who completed the feat.