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Charity leap not plain abseiling
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| Southend Civic Centre |
Dozens of people battled with their nerves - and won - to abseil down Southend Civic Centre.
Among those taking in the Leap for Life to raise money for Southend Hospital were gynaecology consultant Nidhu Tripathi who hopes her department will get a defibrillator as a result of the fundraising.
Miss Tripathi was dressed as Cat Woman while her fianc Nigel Gayner, a member of the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay which organised the event, wore a Superman costume.
"It's raising money for my department so I thought I'd do it," she said adding that she has been pledged £500 in sponsorship.
They were joined by hospital communication workers Ros Mortis, dressed as Spider-man, and Sheila Gotham, in a Supergirl outfit.
Among the youngest abseilers were 12-year-old
twins Lauren and Kirsty Ainslie, of Twyford Avenue, Great Wakering.
The King Edmund School pupils asked if they could sign up after mum Marian, 44, said she was planning to do the 200ft Leap for Life.
She said: "I thought it was all in a good cause. I'm terrified of heights, but I am glad I did it."
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| Our Beverley Rouse on the edge of the building |
Lauren said: "I've done abseiling before, but not as high."
Kirsty added: "I've abseiled in Dorset but only about 30ft."
South Essex Homes admin assistant Hazel Atkins, 23, dangled down with boyfriend Ben Patrick, 27, who works as a rehab assistant at Southend Hospital.
The couple, of Hillborough Road, Westcliff, raised more than £200 in sponsorship.
More than 150 people took part in Sunday's event which is expected to raise more than £10,000.
Why I couldn't go over the top
Having pledged to abseil the 200ft down the south face of Southend Civic Centre, I was more concerned about how my bum looked in the harness as I waited to be called forward.
We were still on the ground when we were harnessed up and given a helmet.
A practice run on a grassy slope to the side of the Civic Centre went fine and I was asking questions about the best technique, rather than panicking about getting down.
But that all changed when I climbed up a ladder onto the platform which raised you even higher than the building's 13-storeyroof.
I inched backwards towards the edge and tried to release the rope that would allow me to lean back and take the first few faltering steps down.
But my legs were trembling and my knees felt like jelly and I realised there was no way I was going over the edge.
The volunteers told me to take a few minutes to calm down, but climbing down from the platform just filled me with relief rather than renewed determination.
I don't like to admit defeat, but it just gave me even more admiration for those who did have the guts to face their fear and go for it.
They got a certificate saying they had
successfully completed the Leap for Life.
Instead of "successfully", mine said "nearly".
1:20pm Tuesday 26th September 2006
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