THRILLSEEKERS teetered on the edge of a 100ft precipice just before abseiling down the side of a hospital tower during a heart-stopping charity fundraiser.
Ninety-nine volunteers of all ages slipped into their harness and shuffled over the side of part of Northwick Park Hospital on Sunday (Feb 19) in front of cheering crowds in aid of St Luke's Hospice, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Among the daredevils were Josephine Hamilton, 74, who completed the challenge with 51-year-old daughter Bev Pickens, and said: “I just wanted to do something adventurous – I’m not really a bingo sort of person. I would like to try wing walking next!”
Event organiser Jemini Shah said: “My favourite story from the day is of 11-year-old Conor Fleming – he has raised £860 already and still says he has more to go.
“He was up at the top hugging other participants to encourage them before they abseiled.
“When he started his own he admitted to the instructor he was a little nervous too even though he had been there supporting everyone else.”
The youngest competitor, Zain Habib, 10, of Field End Road, Harrow, and a pupil of Newnham Junior School in Newnham Avenue, Eastcote, said: “I was only scared when I stepped over the edge. I felt terrified when I looked down and it was really high.
“I could see everyone but they looked like ants. I had done abseiling before but never that high and I want to go even higher next time!
“It took one-and-a-half minutes to abseil down. Everyone cheered and clapped and my dad said: 'Well done and you did it really well.'
“I was really tired when I went home because it was so exciting.”
Pam Russell, the hospice's director of fundraising, said: “We were tremendously grateful to the 99 brave people who braved the rain, the mud, and the 100-foot wall for St Luke’s.
“There was a great spirit among all of the participants who encouraged and supported each other, and the volunteers who kept peoples spirits up with lots of hot tea and cake.
“Rather than deterring people, the mud seemed to add an extra sense of hilarity to the day!”
This was the third consecutive year the charity abseil challenge has been run and the participants raised a total of £14,000 between them in sponsorship – more than double last year's sum.
The hospice in Kenton Grange, Kenton, is reliant on donations and fundraising for in excess of 70 per cent of its income and the sum generated from Sunday's stunt would cover three months' worth of drugs, for example.
N St Luke's Hospice was given £200 worth of prizes and gifts as a donation by discount retailer Wilkinsons' new store in St George's Shopping Centre in St Ann's Road, Harrow.
