Are you brave enough to abseil 80 feet from the top of Douglas Head Lighthouse? That’s the question being posed in The Children’s Centre’s latest charity challenge which will be held on Saturday April 5. It will be the first time ever that abseiling has been allowed from the top of the lighthouse and promises to be a spectacular adventure for all those who take part.
Participants will make the daring descent after receiving expert instruction and training from The Children’s Centre’s MOBEX outdoor pursuits team. Permission for the event has been granted by the Northern Lighthouse Board and owners of the two cottages at the foot of the lighthouse. The Children’s Centre has organised several abseiling events in recent years to raise funds – including descents from the top of the Strand Shopping Centre, the RBS International building in Douglas, and last year from the top of the Point of Ayre Lighthouse. But Mark Eastham, Fundraising Co-ordinator for The Children’s Centre, says the April 5 event will be extra special. He said:
“It’s a stunning location and we’re extremely grateful to the Northern Lighthouse Board - and to the owners of the cottages Jim and Maggie Shutler and John and Tina Mather - for allowing us to use such an iconic building. The view from the top is spectacular and it’s bound to appeal to anyone with a sense of adventure, or who just wants to experience abseiling for the first time.”
There is no age limit for taking part, but anyone under the age of 16 will need parental consent. Entry costs ?99 and places are limited to 100 participants. The first abseilers will take the plunge at 10am, and if all the spaces are taken the event will last well into the afternoon. All proceeds go to The Children’s Centre’s charitable projects including Mobex, Out2Play, Child Contact Centre, Community Development and the Community Farm.
If you want to sign up for the event call on 676076 or email fundraising@thechildrenscentre.org.im, or for full details you can go to http://www.thechildrenscentre.org.im/events/take-the-plunge/ where you will find a video featuring stunning aerial views of the lighthouse.
Photo - Silvia Kennaugh taking part in The Children’s Centre abseil from the top of the Point of Ayre Lighthouse in April 2013. She was one of 52 fundraisers who took part in the event.
