Firewalk trial for grieving ex-miner
HEAT’S ON FOR AGE UK VOLUNTEER
Reporter A FORMER miner who spent 35 years down the pit will be walking over hot coals to thank the charity that helped him cope with the grief of losing his wife.
Allan Hudson, from Walkerville in Newcastle, has volunteered for Age UK North Tyneside at its Cedar Grove Wellbeing Centre in Wallsend for almost three years.
He became involved with the charity because he wanted something to occupy him after the death of his wife of 50 years, Brenda, in 2014, and to help make “a bit of a difference”.
And this week Allan will be walking on burning coals at the Newcastle Firewalk on Wednesday, November 28, in aid of the charity.
The 77-year-old said: “When my wife passed away I was left with an emptiness. I needed something to do, to give back, to help those not as active as I am able to be.
“This experience has allowed me to appreciate and understand elderly people l and d also l understand d t d th those with dementia and disability. I love my time with all the customers – every day is different and I enjoy the challenge.
“The Fire Walk is another challenge. It is i another th way to t give i back b k th through h raising funds that will go towards the older people I help to look after.”
Allan previously worked two shifts a day to support his family, spending seven hours a day at the pit at Cotgrave Colliery, before heading off to work on a nearby farm.
Shortly after Brenda died he began volunteering at Cedar Grove, where he gives between 35 and 40 hours a week to support and entertain older people, as well as doing odd jobs around the building.
He is one of a number of volunteers who work with Age UK North Tyneside, a charity committed to ending loneliness for the 14,000 older people living in the borough.
He will be one of 15 fundraisers from the charity at Kingston Park, who will join other local Age UK branches from Sunderland, Gateshead and Northumberland as well as other charities from across the region, in trying to break the world record for the Allan Hudson most t people l doing d i a fi fire walk lk at t one time.
The Firewalk comes the day after #GivingTuesday, which aims to get people thinking of others in the runup to Christmas through donating to charity, volunteering or helping out another person, and is a focus for Age UK North Tyneside this year.
Alma Caldwell, chief executive of Age UK North Tyneside, said: “Alan is an inspiration to us all and a great ambassador for the value and benefit of volunteering for both himself and those he gives time to support.”
She added: “We are supporting #GivingTuesday locally and asking others to do the same by making a contribution to charity in some small way, for example a small donation of their time or money.”
To sponsor Allan, head to www.justgiving.com/campaign/Firewalk2018.
For more information on Age UK North Tyneside and its services head to www.ageuk.org.uk/northtyneside/.