Age UK Wandsworth's 60th Anniversary Abseil

On a bright sunny Saturday, a group of volunteer fundraisers (including some brave staff and trustees!), came together in Stratford to descend the UK’s largest sculpture, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, all in aid of raising essential funds for Age UK Wandsworth.

The abseil marks the launch of a series of events to celebrate our 60th anniversary. The team, led by Age UK Wandsworth's CEO, Natalie de Silva, braved the 262 feet descent to throw themselves off the edge of the UK’s highest freefall abseil platform, safe in the knowledge their actions would propel our "60k for 60 Years" fundraising efforts off to a flying start.

But why? What could motivate such a diverse group of individuals to take on such an adrenaline pumping challenge?

Bryan Savage-Leao, Age UK Wandsworth’s Hospital Discharge Coordinator explains:

“I’ve worked for Age UK Wandsworth for the past 18 months and have seen first-hand the impact that the services we provide have on older people. I’d previously completed a skydive, but when the opportunity to abseil for the charity’s 60th anniversary came up, I literally jumped at it. The hardest bit was descending from the edge. Once I got over that fear, it was smooth sailing!"

Thank you!

We are so grateful for our volunteer fundraiser team for taking on this challenge!

So far, they have raised an incredible £1,613, with every penny going directly to support older people in the community. There's still time to donate to the total via our secure fundraising partners Enthuse, just click the link below. 

Donate

Get Involved

If reading this has inspired you to take on your own exciting challenge for Age UK Wandsworth, get in touch with our Fundraising Coordinator, Ruth, at ruth.eldridge@ageukwandsworth.org.uk.

Or, find us on our Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to see more photos of our team's extraordinary efforts, and to find out about future fundraising events and challenges!

About us

Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local charity that has supported older people in the London Borough of Wandsworth since 1963. For the past six decades we have worked tirelessly to help older people 'Age Well in Wandsworth', by providing services to help maximise their incomes, stay independent in their homes for as long as they wish to and improve their social and community connections.

We are an independent charity and we are not funded to operate by Age UK National.