A firewalk with heart, grit and very determined islanders.

When CLAN Cancer Support invited us to Orkney, we knew it would be special. Orkney folk don’t half turn up for their community, and this event proved it.

By the time the embers cooled, they’d raised over £22,000 to support families affected by cancer across the islands.

There were tears, laughter, shaky knees, a ridiculous amount of cheering, and that moment right before someone steps up to the embers — the quiet breath, the wobble, then the walk. Pure courage.

And here’s the thing: fundraising success like that doesn’t happen by accident.

Here are the big lessons from CLAN’s Orkney firewalk that made the difference.

Key tips for a record-breaking charity firewalk

Make it personal
CLAN didn’t just talk about “raising money”.
They shared stories, faces, reasons.
People don’t donate to a vague mission. They donate because they know who they’re helping.

Build a community feel
They treated it like a shared moment, not a solo challenge.
Participants encouraged one another, families came along, local supporters turned up.
Firewalking is powerful on its own; doing it shoulder-to-shoulder raises the energy (and the funds).

Get loud early
They promoted with plenty of time, used local media, and tapped into that Orkney word-of-mouth magic.
The earlier people sign up, the more time they have to fundraise.

Support your walkers
CLAN gave their participants resources, encouragement and a wee push when needed.
Folk are far more likely to hit big numbers when someone checks in and cheers them on.

Celebrate every step
They made the night feel huge.
Not just “well done, thanks” — but a genuine, emotional, community-powered celebration.
When your donors feel part of something bigger, they come back next year. And they bring pals.