Samaritans seeking volunteers for their sponsored Firewalk

If you are over 14 years of age and are able to walk unaided and are up for a challenge why not get in touch.

The FIREWALK will be held at The Big House, Crankill Road, Ballymena on Saturday, November 10 and comprehensive training will start at 5:30 with the FIREWALK beginning shortly after 7:30.

It is 100% safe and a chance of a lifetime to do something different. As they say if you can walk on fire you can do anything. Why not open yourself to new possibilities?

If you would be interested in taking part or in sponsoring those who are then please go to [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/samaritansballymena or contact Allana on 07548875969 to find out more.

You never know where this may lead. Don’t want to do the walk, you can still come along to watch. Spectators welcome from 7:30pm.

If you would rather give a donation please go to http://virginmoneygiving.com/charities/samaritansofballymena

As one previous firewalker said “The hours before, and the actual experience itself have made me see new possibilities in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever say “I can’t,” again...now I know I can pretty much do anything.”

Samaritans will support you as you walk through the “Fire” in your life. Throughout our lives each of us is faced with different situations; some good, like a new job, a wedding, the birth of a child; or the not so good – relationship and family problems, bereavements, financial worries, or the loss of a job. Often we can work through our problems with the help of family and friends, but what if we can’t talk about it with our nearest and dearest? What if the distress or despair becomes too much? This is when talking to a stranger can help. This is when Samaritans can help.

Samaritans is a confidential, non-judgemental, emotional support service for anyone in the UK or Ireland. The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are finding it hard to express their feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide.

Volunteers offer support by responding to phone calls, e-mails, texts and letters. Alternatively people can drop in to their local branch to have a face to face meeting.

Samaritans doesn’t offer advice, but by encouraging people who contact them to talk and work through their feelings they are able to explore all the options available.

Samaritans believe that given the time and space to work through problems or difficulties in confidence, people can find an inner strength and perspective which lets them find their own way forward.

Samaritans can be contacted by phone 028 2565 0000 or 08457 90 90 90, or if you prefer to write via e-mail at [email protected] a trained volunteer will be there for you, anytime you need us.

Or you can visit your local branch at 45 Mount Street, Ballymena to talk to a volunteer in person. Visit www.samaritans.org to find out about the branch and the opening times.

If English is not your native language please log onto Befrienders Worldwide www.befrienders.org/ which includes a directory of emotional support helplines around the world.