After all, when more than £15,000 was raised for the charity‘s vital work supporting Manchester communities last time round, then why no go for round two?
The We Love MCR Sponsored Firewalk is part of the charity’s ongoing series of ‘mind-over-matter’ fundraising challenges.
And if having 50 fundraisers walk over 700-degree hot coals with dozens of spectators cheering them on wasn’t impressive enough the first time, this year, the event was even bigger and better than ever, because the charity upped the stakes by putting on not one, but two, lanes of fire for walkers to conquer.
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After being rescheduled to Thursday 25 January from its original date last November, due to adverse weather conditions, this meant that the second Firewalk was We Love MCR Charity’s first fundraising event in 2024.
70 “daredevil” Mancs took on the challenge in St Ann’s Square this time around.
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Firewalking expert, Cliff Mann from TIME4CHANGE, returned to Manchester to oversee the event and coach nervous participants once again.
International samba reggae band, Batala, were also there to add to the atmosphere, and made sure their ferocious drumming served as a dramatic soundtrack to the night’s events so the brave firewalkers had a beat to march to while they stepped out of their comfort zone.
Simon Wright, who is the new Head of We Love MCR Charity, was one of those who took to the coals as his first fundraising event for the charity.
“Since joining We Love MCR in September 2023, I’ve been looking forward to getting involved in some exciting fundraising events,” Simon said following the event.
“And 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 funds in aid of Manchester’s communities and young people, as we truly couldn’t do it without your support.”
70 fundraisers walked on fire in St Ann’s Square last week / Credit: Jake Lindley (via WLMC)
More than £25,000 was raised from the event, and that figure is climbing by the day too.
All 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 ‘Rising Stars Fund’, and the ‘Stronger Communities Fund’.
Find out more about the future events in WLMC’s ‘Challenge Event Series’ here.
Featured Image – Jake Lindley (via WLMC)
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‘Hairy men’ needed to play soldiers in returning major fantasy TV series
Thomas Melia
A huge TV series has issued an urgent casting call for, very specifically, ‘hairy men’ to play soldiers.
The exact show hasn’t been named in the casting call, but it’s definitely a major returning fantasy, and is reportedly House of the Dragon, the hit Game of Thrones spin-off.
This big on demand show is set to start filming in just two months’ time, meaning anyone considering shouldn’t wait to apply.
There are a list of key characteristics candidates should have if hoping for this role, including a great work ethic and a professional attitude, something all Mancs like to think we have.
The job description states that no prior acting experience is required, one of the only other things you need to be good at is waking up early (well that’s me out).
Most importantly, headhunters are looking for individuals to take on that have one big factor in common… lots of hair.
On the official website where you can submit your headshots and photos, you will find a mood board filled with ranging hairstyles that fit the desired look the show is going for.
Just one example of a long-haired man who fits the criteria for the returning series.Another similar hair style choice to the guide from the casting call.Credit via Unsplash
Most of the pictures on the site range from long curly locks to big bushy beards – it’s a shame Santa will be back in the North Pole by now.
All candidates must have grown-out hair, ‘overgrown scruff to longer beards’, this means no short, back and sides, or any ‘modern fades’ as stated by the casting team.
If the rumours are true and this turns out to be a shoot for House Of The Dragon, it would be great to see even more Northern talent feature in this show.
It wasn’t too long ago that fans and Mancs alike realised that actor Olivia Cooke, who plays Lady Alicent Hightower, was a local lass herself, born not too far away in Oldham.
One final and important note is that anyone who is likely to apply must make sure they’re 18+ and have a right to work in the UK.
Filming will take place across North Wales and the South East from March onwards, with rate of pay roughly £140-£300+ per day (depending on hours worked).
To apply for a chance to feature in the returning major fantasy series, you can do so by visiting the site HERE.
Greater Manchester set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by some heavy rain and wind this week, according to the Met Office.
While things have seemed surprisingly more settled for the time of year over the last week or so, with clearer skies and chilly winter mornings being fairly commonplace, all that will change very soon, as the Met Office has forecasted that the UK is set to be battered by some ‘impactful’ heavy rain and strong winds as the week goes on.
Low pressure systems will bring a more ‘unsettled’ spell of weather, with a severe weather warning for wind issued for certain parts of the UK.
Today is expected to be filled with grey skies and light rain here in Greater Manchester, with cloud covering much of the rest of the country, and other outbreaks of rain elsewhere, whereas on Wednesday, the focus of rain will shift to southern England instead.
The weather looks set to turn more unsettled during the forthcoming week 🌧️ 🌬️
Thursday is where it’s set to take the biggest downturn though, as a front bringing heavy rain moves eastwards through the day, and it’s us here in North West England that are expected to see the highest accumulations too, with 20-30mm could falling over the hills, and some hill snow even possible over the Scottish mountains too.
A deep area of low pressure will also have ‘deepened rapidly’ by Thursday, bringing ‘strengthening winds’ to western parts of the UK along with it overnight, followed by more heavy rainfall.
Greater Manchester is set to be battered by ‘impactful’ heavy rain and wind this week / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“A very deep area of low pressure will bring a very unsettled, potentially disruptive, spell of weather to the UK through Friday and into Saturday,” explained Chris Almond, who is the Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist.
“Winds will begin to strengthen on Thursday night, with the peak gusts forecast through Friday in Northern Ireland and western Scotland. The wind will also be accompanied by heavy rain bringing some unpleasant conditions to end the week.
“We have issued a Yellow weather warning for wind, and with several days before the impactful weather, the forecast details are likely to be fine-tuned during the week, so stay tuned to your local forecast and keep up to date with Met Office warnings.”