Walking on Fire - A mothers mission to turn fear into Action

From skydives to fire walks, one Midlands mother has spent 25 years raising over £200,000 for meningitis charities- all to make sure fewer families face the devastating reality of this disease.

Angela during her 2016 skydive, one of many challenges completed to raise money and awareness.

There is a moment just before the jump when everything goes quiet. The noise of the plane fades, the chatter disappears, and for a split second, it is just you and the reality of what comes next. “You’re going whether you like it or not.” For Angela Cloke, that moment has become all too familiar. Standing at the edge of a plane thousands of feet in the air fear is unavoidable, but instead of stepping back, she leans into it. “The plane door opened, and all I could hear was the engine and the wind,” she recalls. “Then someone said, ‘You’re going whether you like it or not.’ And that was it. ”Below her the ground stretched endlessly a distant patchwork of fields and rooftops. Above her the roar of the plane faded as she stepped forward and began falling. It’s a moment most people would spend their lives avoiding. For Angela, it’s just one of many challenges she has taken on in the past 25 years.

Her mission is simple but urgent ensuring more people recognise symptoms early enough to save lives.

It’s not the sort of situation most people willingly put themselves in. But for Angela Cloke fear has become part of the process something to lean into, rather than run from. Over the past 25 years, she’s taken part in and organised an extraordinary range of charity events from skydives to firewalks, broken glass walks, sponsored swims, quiz nights, fashion shows, and even full-scale “Strictly”-style dance evenings. And yet, for all the spectacle, it’s not adrenaline that drives her. It’s something far more personal.

Angela’s journey into fundraising began after her son, Sam, survived meningitis. She could recall this night that changed her family 25 years ago, remembering every detail, every phone call, every temperature check and every gut feeling a mother has when they know their child is sick. They were told to prepare for the worst and in that moment her life was reshaped completely. “I’ve met so many families who weren’t as lucky as we were,” she says. “That stays with you. It humbles you.”

Angela and her son Sam, whose recovery inspired years of fundraising

What started as a single act of giving back quickly became something much bigger. Over the past two and a half decades, Angela has raised more than £205,000 for meningitis charities. Not all Angela’s events involve extreme stunts, some are rooted deep in community and bringing people together. For example, her annual coffee mornings in Temple Balsall became a local tradition, bringing people together through something simple yet meaningful. Months of preparation would go into each event baking, organising, and transforming her home into a welcoming space. The smell of fresh cakes would fill the air, while conversations and laughter created a sense of warmth and connection. “I’d get about three or four hours sleep the night before,” she says. “It was exhausting, but afterwards, it was just lovely.” These quieter moments highlight another side of Angela’s work one built on connection and community.

“People think these events are the hard part, but they’re not. Walking on hot coals? I’d do that every day. The real challenge is getting people to care.”

Angela’s 2014 Abseil Fundraiser

To help increase knowledge around meningitis Angela offers awareness talks to local schools and community groups. Meningitis affects around 8000 people a year in the UK, with 1 in 10 cases being fatal. Early recognition of symptoms can be the difference between life and death, yet awareness remains a challenge.

Angela’s talks offer lifesaving information not only the signs and symptoms and what to do if these appear but also a human face to this disease, someone who can talk about their story and experience. A big problem she faces when offering these talks is often they don’t reply, but when they do many decline stating they don’t want to stress anyone out or cause fear across these groups or schools. Then when outbreaks occur, for example the recent outbreak of meningitis in Kent saw around 20–30 cases and resulted in two deaths, they want the talk. Angela commented highlighting how “Awareness should come before fear, its knowledge that saves lives.” And she has done just that.

“You get moments that make everything worth it. A mum once told me her baby’s life was saved because of my talk. She recognised symptoms in her baby just days after hearing me speak and it saved his life. That’s why I keep going.”

Angela’s work is echoed by organisations such as Meningitis Now, who emphasise the importance for awareness

A spokesperson explains: “Awareness saves lives. Knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and acting quickly, can make the difference between life and death. Individuals like Angela play a crucial role in helping us reach communities and ensure that no family faces this disease alone.”

Edgbaston cricket stadium 2024

Angela’s work has taken her from local halls across the West Midlands to Buckingham Palace where she once stood in the room behind the famous royal balcony, “I was like a child on Christmas day”. At another event, she was unexpectedly presented to the Duchess of Edinburgh while wearing purple glittery boots, sparkly jeans and a Christmas jumper (with colour changing sequins) reading: “ ‘Tinsel-tastic’ across the front” and in true fundraising fashion “I asked her if she’d walk on hot coals, but said no and she stared at my feet and while she said it and commented on my glitter Doc martins”

The Reality of Fundraising is far from glamorous as support isn’t always guaranteed, costs can add up quickly and people cancel. “It’s incredibly hard to engage people sometimes,” she admits. “Especially when they think it doesn’t affect them.”

“It only takes one person hearing the message at the right time to save a life.”

Angela has ticked off almost every challenge she once dreamed of and she has turned a horrible night 25 years ago into a lifetime of events and lifesaving funds raised. Angela’s story is one of persistence, compassion, and resilience. In a world where attention is fleeting, she has spent decades making people stop, listen, and learn because awareness is everything.

Sky dive 2016 with RAF display team, Red Devils

To hear more about Angela Cloke’s fundraising adventures visit the CovFeed socials.

For more information on meningitis visit https://www.meningitisnow.org