Burning ambition to beat firewalk record
Published on 23/01/2006
Original article posted at news and star
By Fiona MacLeod
A FORMER businessman is
hoping to break the world record for the longest firewalk.
Scott Bell, of
Great Orton, near Carlisle, will attempt to walk over 75 yards of hot coals at
Belah School in Carlisle next Saturday.
Mr Bell, 46, hopes the attempt
will not be too hot to handle as his feet touch temperatures of 1300F or
above.
It's been a dream for him to break the 220ft record currently held
by Canadian Amanda Dennison.
He said: "It's like walking over pebbles:
you're not really aware of the heat at the time. You think about it afterwards.
It makes you feel that if you can walk on fire you can do anything."
For
Mr Bell and his wife firewalking is more than just a hot hobby.
He said:
"I have been firewalking for a couple of years and we started our own business
about six months ago.
"We travel the country doing firewalks for
corporate, charity and public events."
Mr Bell's life changed at his
first firewalk, run by an American motivation guru.
He said: "I felt
there was more to this so I went to Sweden to learn how to become a firewalker
myself."
Wife Diane, a teaching assistant at Belah, was intrigued by the
idea of staying in the wilderness in a teepee so she went along
too.
Since then even children Chloe, 12, and Adam, 14, have been getting
in on the act.
Despite the science behind the phenomenon, which allows
people to walk across fire without burning, Mr Bell admits there is a risk and
makes all his clients sign a waiver.
Crucial to his attempt will be
having confidence and walking purposefully.
He said: "The slightest doubt
and you will burn. It's all about self-belief and listening to yourself."
Money raised from the record attempt, at 7pm on Saturday, will be split
between Belah School and charity Carlisle Active (Mencap).