MICHELLE Basson is taking a leap of faith in more ways than one when she stages a charity firewalk next month.

As well as summoning up the courage to hot foot it across the burning coals, she is also hoping to raise money for the new charity she has set up with her mother and sister to help the child victims of bullying and domestic abuse.

The 45-year-old had wanted to give firewalking a go for some years, but it wasn’t until recently that she felt ready.

“I have history with domestic violence. I was a victim. I came out of a bad relationship and I thought, ‘I actually want to do this now’,” she said.

She had planned to take part in a Prospect Hospice firewalk but then she discovered it wasn’t being run. “Several people said to me, ‘Why don’t you organise your own?’. That’s where it came from.

“The reason for choosing firewalking is that I know a lot of people who have done it and gained a huge amount from it.”

She was a keen runner before she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year and she noted that many fundraisers in the areas involved running. “We just figured it would be great to have something different.”

Walkers can pay a £50 registration fee and then raise money for their own choice of charity. Participants have already chosen SNDogs, Help for Heroes and Prospect Hospice.

Profits from the event at the Sun Inn, Coate on October 29, will be split with the Brighter Futures appeal.

But it will be first official fundraiser for Anything Is Possible, the new charity she has started with her mum Maria and sister Emma and based at the Nexus Business Centre.

Her son Ben, aged 14, is one of her inspirations. Like Michelle, he has Asperger’s. He also has ADHD. “He knows what it is to be bullied and isolated,” she said.

“I decided I wanted to make a difference and I thought of my life experience.”

She explained statutory funding and benefits really only covered the necessities and things like days out, trips to the cinema or fun activity sessions were quite often unaffordable.

One of her ambitions is to organise weekly trampoline sessions for children at the women’s refuge.

“It is small projects that will make a difference to children who have been victims of violent abuse or social exclusion.”

So far feedback on the firewalk has been good and if it catches on there are plans to make it a yearly challenge.

The event starts at 2pm and carries on into the evening with live music and a hog roast.

To register visit anythingispossible.org.uk