The brave, bare-footed team walked across the red-hot surface to raise over £2,900!

The team which took part in the fire walk comprised of the Leeds office regional managing partner Nick Bates, Jane Horton, Raminder Bhabra, Andy Russell, Sarah Coles, Scott Beckett, Tarlo Suprim, Rebecca Streets, Simon Cuerdon and Jack Gibson.

We would like to thank the wonderful team of firewalkers and their colleagues at Irwin Mitchell for raising such a fantastic amount of money.

We are so lucky to have such great friends in Irwin Mitchell who have been long standing supporters of Leeds Mencap.

The firewalk will raise funds for Leeds Rugby Foundation and Mencap Leeds, which supports the families of Jodie Barrow, Hayley Davison and Kate Kelly, who all have children with learning disabilities.

Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow and mascot Ronnie The Rhino are also due to take part in the event, at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Monday, December 19.

Hayley, who lives in Hunslet, is mum to 18-month-old Lila and attends Leeds Mencap’s Hawthorn Family Support Centre in East End Park every Tuesday.

She said: “The Hawthorn Family Support Centre has been a welcome haven for me. I want to do as much as I can for Leeds Mencap because everyone at Leeds Mencap does as much as much as they can for my daughter and me, so that is why I am walking on hot coals even though I am petrified.”

Jodie, of Bramley – mum to 15-month-old Charlie – added: “Words can’t describe how great Leeds Mencap has been for my family. I am doing the firewalk as I want to give something back to this great charity – even though I am really nervous.”

Applications for the firewalk are still open but the last day for submitting entries is tomorrow.

The event is open to anyone who can raise at least £100 in sponsorship, with participants enduring red-hot embers burning at up to 1,236 degrees Fahrenheit.

Each firewalker will receive a two-hour motivational training session and the event will include free activities for all the family, including a bouncy castle and the chance to meet Rhinos players.

Sinead O’Brien, fundraising officer at Leeds Mencap, said: “The firewalk is going to be awe-inspiring and a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of Leeds Mencap and raise funds for two fantastic local charities.”

Leeds Rhino Players and Carnegie Players get wrapping!

Leeds Rugby and The Merrion Centre in Leeds City Centre have teamed up with Leeds Mencap to offer a free gift wrapping service on Saturday the 10th December 2011.  Any gift purchased at the centre can be wrapped free of charge, simply show your receipt when presenting your gifts to be wrapped. There will be Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie players from 11am-2pm on Saturday 10th December helping to wrap gifts and autograph gift tags along with the Leeds Rhinos mascot, Ronnie the Rhino. So why not visit the Leeds Rugby Store in the Merrion centre and pick up some Leeds Rhinos or Leeds Carnegie shirts, training range or souvenirs for your family and friends for Christmas and get it gift wrapped all in one shopping trip!!!

The gift wrap is free of charge but donations are very welcome - all proceeds go to Leeds Mencap, a fantastic independent charity which supports children and adults with learning disabilities throughout Leeds.  Ruth Fawcett, Head of Fundraising & PR at Leeds Mencap said “We are absolutely thrilled to be working in partnership with both Leeds Rugby and the Merrion Centre in order to help shoppers get their presents wrapped before their recipients are able to take a peek!  Furthermore, all donations go to a great local charity which supports over 250 families with learning disabilities per week.”   

Andrew Stringer, Centre Manager at the Merrion Centre said: “We’re delighted to have the players here in the centre and extremely pleased to be supporting this fantastic charity that does such a lot of amazing work in the local area. Not only have we got the charity gift wrapping service that day,  but Santa’s grotto will be open and we also have an ipad2 prize draw for our customers to enter.  With so much going on, there is no better place to do your shopping next Saturday.”   

7.12.10

29.11.11

Volunteers needed!

Help is needed for lots of lovely tasks at Leeds Mencap and we currently need help with an array of fun filled tasks;

Assistants at the Youth Club

Fundraising

Marketing

Managing the collection boxes

Administration

In return or your help we promise lots of smiles, cups of tea and a great space on your CV!

Please get in touch at info@leedsmencap.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you!