Fundraising abseil a great success!
We are delighted that our fundraising abseil was a great success this September!
The Courtyard hosted its first abseil on Saturday 9 September, with 23 amazing participants raising thousands of pounds for the organisation in this 25th anniversary year. The youngest person to take part was ten years old, and at the other end of the age range, two octogenarians braved the 30-metre wall.
David, 82, a long-time supporter and Patron of The Courtyard said:
“What an exciting experience, I loved every minute!!”
The abseil was run by Ben and Sam Stokes from the Boulder Barn, who offered careful instructions and huge encouragement to everyone as they descended the building. A large crowd gathered in the car park to watch and cheer the abseilers in the blazing sunshine. At the end of each abseiler’s descent there were hugs from family and friends to celebrate their achievement.
Barbara commented:
“Despite an initial frisson of fear, having reached the roof, once over the wall, I felt perfectly safe under the care and instruction of Sam and Ben and it was only when I reached the bottom of the building that I started shaking but with exhilaration, not fright!”
Some of the participants did the descent in costume, with Spiderman, Chucky Chicken and Cookie The Courtyard Bear raising a laugh as well as hundreds of pounds towards the grand total which is already beyond £4,500.
Clare Wichbold, Fundraising Manager, said:
“I am so pleased that we were able to organise the abseil to help celebrate our 25th anniversary. Thankyou to everyone who took part, particularly those who overcame their fear of heights to do the abseil. I take my hat off to them for their courage to step over the edge and come down the wall. And I’m really grateful to Ben and Sam who were absolutely fantastic on what was the hottest day of the heatwave. They deserved their pint in the Café Bar afterwards!”
