A Chelsea Pensioner is getting over his fear of heights by taking to the skies on Europe’s longest zip wire to raise funds for the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Michael Allen will be travelling one mile this Wednesday (October 8) morning at speeds of up to 100mph on the Zip World Velocity wire at Bethesda in Snowdonia National Park, Wales.
The 72-year-old former Royal Military Policeman and current tour guide at the Royal Hospital may have been all around the world, from Canada and Northern Ireland to Borneo and Hong Kong, but he is returning to his birth country to conquer his fear of heights following a passing comment.
He said: “I was in Bethesda in August when we passed the zip wire and I said ‘oh that looks easy’, then one of the staff heard me and said I should have a go so I agreed and then I really couldn’t go back on my word!
“I hate heights, I won’t go on fairground rides, and this is 1,500ft above the ground and lasts about three minutes. As it gets closer I’m getting more worried but I won’t back out, I can’t.
“I’ve been at the Royal Hospital for seven years and they’ve been the happiest years of my life. I wanted to raise money for the Royal Hospital because they’ve been so good to me and some day they’ll be spending a fair amount of money to look after me so I feel it’s good to give back.”
Mr Allen will be driving and climbing up to the zip wire in his famous Scarlet uniform and will then don a red jump suit for the ride for safety and weather reasons.
Like most Chelsea Pensioners, he is very tech savvy and already has an iPhone 6. He will have a photographer taking photos of him as he embarks on and ends his journey and will also be wearing a GoPro camera strapped to his head to film the entire terrifying experience.
He added: “Everyone has used the word bonkers or mad to describe me doing this, let’s hope it goes well!”
Mr Allen shares the Royal Hospital Chelsea near Sloane Square with some 300 fellow In-Pensioners who are all former soldiers of the British army.
His favourite pub is the Rose and Crown on Lower Sloane Street which he says is ‘a great mix of Sloane Rangers, labourers and Chelsea Pensioners’.
He is hoping to raise £2,000 on his JustGiving page . He will also be tweeting about his experience here .
