Festive Freefall Brings in Thousands for Hospice
Dec 12, 2010
Dozens of daredevil abseilers took the plunge for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice on Saturday, December 11, raising thousands of pounds for the charity.
The Selly Park-based hospice’s first ever sponsored freefall abseil took place at Star City near M6 Junction 6 and is on course to bring in £7,000. Money raised from the event will be used directly to care for people with life-limiting illnesses from Birmingham and Sandwell.
Organiser Charlotte Sudbury, hospice events fundraiser, was delighted with the total.
She said: “It’s the first time we’ve staged such an event and the response has been great. People have done a truly amazing job in getting well above the minimum sponsorship amount of £100, with one person even raising around £1,000.
“There was also a great atmosphere on the day, with a large group of abseilers and their families applauding each other as they came down the rope. I’d like to thank everyone who came out and supported this event.”
Abseilers descended an exhilarating 118ft from the entertainment complex’s central atrium without any wall for support.
Carla Griffin, of Kidderminster, was one of the first of 30 people to take on the challenge.
“It was absolutely terrifying,” she said, adding, “I’m really glad I did it and raised the money for the hospice but I found it very frightening. The moment when you go through the hatch is really scary, your feet just dangle in thin air. I’m not sure I’d do it again!”
Another participant had a different take on his experience. Hospice trustee and Birmingham dental professor Damien Walmsley said: “The whole experience was fantastic fun and there was a really lovely atmosphere among the abseilers, who all clapped each other as they came down. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”
George Beet, the hospice volunteer driver who recently hit the headlines for his participation in Festive Freefall and brave battle against cancer, received loud applause and cheers when he made the descent.
“It was an absolutely superb experience – I can’t understand why anybody wouldn’t want to do it. I would like to thank everyone who’s supported me, especially the George V pub in Sheldon and Sheldon Heath Social Club, they’ve been wonderful,” George said.
The event was supported by host Star City, Creation Climbing Centre in Moseley, who provided the equipment and managed the abseil, and IMA Lifeline, who were on hand to provide medical support.
Creation Climbing Centre’s Toby Forrester said the company had offered its services at a discounted rate.
“We’re delighted to support Birmingham St Mary’s. The hospice is special to me personally because it cared for my father 20 years ago, so I know about the good work it does. Other members of staff have also had relatives cared for by Birmingham St Mary’s” he said.
Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS.
With around 52 percent of the Hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell.
In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient Unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.
The Hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.
Annual running costs stand at £6.3 million, with around £1 million being raised in the Hospice’s shops and £2.7 million via fundraising. The remainder comes from the NHS.
Picture caption: hospice trustee Damien Walmsley begins his Festive Freefall.
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