Published: Thursday, 10th April, 2008 08:10
Dad all set to face his greatest fear
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A father of-two is preparing to face his greatest fear this weekend when he wraps a five foot-long python around his neck… all ‘fangs’ to a self-imposed charity dare.
Martin Shiel, who was once chased screaming from his home by a friend armed with WOODEN snake, is to undertake this gruelling test of his mettle with a live Royal Queen Python at Dobbie’s Garden Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The 36-year-old suffers from ophidiophobia – an irrational fear of snakes – and said he found it difficult to even look at snakes on television, never mind handling one in the flesh.
But he is set to confront his phobia with a sponsored five-minute ‘snake hold’.
He said: “I have always been scared of snakes. A friend oncecame to the house and said: ‘do you wanna see my new snake?’ and opened a box and came at me with it.
“I have a bad knee but I bolted out of the house quicker than lightening – even though it turned out to be a wooden one.
“I was in tears and was hyperventilating and everything. . . it’s funny now but I was terrified when it happened.”
Mr Shiel, from Ashgrove, is raising money for Bridge Christian Centre’s Remix youth club which runs on Tuesday evenings for four to 11-year-olds.
Every week, more than 100 children attend the club, which offers a range of activities from sports to arts and crafts.
But this is the second time the father-of-two has succumbed to his madcap notions.
A decade ago, he submerged himself in a bath full of cold baked beans for five hours, raising £300 for East Lothian Handicapped Playscheme in North Berwick.
Mr Shiel has already raised £200 in sponsorship but hopes more money floods in.
He is even prepared to go that extra mile for a one-off donation.
“If someone wanted to donate £100 in one go I will give the snake kisses on the cheek – that’s pushing me to my limits,” he said.
All cash raised will help fund general activities at Remix youth club.
To sponsor Martin, contact him by e-mail at this address: martinshiel@aol.com
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