Crane plunge raises funds for kids

 

Nerves of steel serve charity well, as shown by the brave souls who abseiled from the top of Finneston Crane on Sunday 13 June, to raise money for families of sick children.

All proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House at Yorkhill. Here, the families of children being treated for critical and long term illnesses at the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids, receive free accommodation and support. This service allows families to stay together through trying and often tragic times.

Perhaps the worthiness of the cause gave the volunteers the metal to climb to the top of Finneston Crane, walk along the platform, mount the barrier, and abseil the 200ft back to safe ground by the River Clyde!

Not that they were left dangling alone! Experts from The Glasgow Climbing Centre ensured all volunteers were securely harnessed and instructed before beginning their descent. The drop allowed the volunteers to hover above the Clyde and view the iconic Clyde Arc bridge and the empty river.

Dan Cowley, Manager of the Glasgow  Climbing Centre, headed up the team of climbing experts. He said: ‘ It was great that the event was for such a good cause. All the staff from the centre are vastly experienced and  know the fear of going over the top for the first time. It was great fun for us to show the volunteers the ropes.’

If the presence of Dan and his team was not reassurance enough, volunteers at least knew they were attached to a dependable platform. The historic Finneston Crane can support up to 175 tonnes, a considerable amount more than any of the volunteers!

Volunteers were each asked to raise a minimum of £110 through sponsorship.

To join in future fundraising events for Ronald McDonald House visit their website: www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.net

SOS from Ronald McDonald House

An abseil from the Finnieston Crane on Sunday 13 June is in danger of being called off if another 60 volunteers are not signed up to raise funds soon.
The good cause is Yorkhill Family House – the Ronald McDonald House is a registered charity providing free accommodation for families with a child undergoing treatment at Yorkhill Hospital. It needs £300,000 a year to operate for families who come from all over Scotland, Northern Ireland and Northern England because of the specialist treatments available at the hospital.
Said Allison McKillop, the fundraising co-ordinator: ‘In the past, we’ve had to turn people away from our Finnieston Crane abseil. This year we’re struggling to get the numbers we need to make the event worthwhile. The more people we have doing the abseil and paying the £110 sponsorship money, the less the cost is per head for the Crane. We’d like to make £10,000 from the event but right now we’ve only got 40 people and we need another 60 to hope to reach that target.’
The 175 foot iconic Crane is not for the faint-hearted; but the views are brilliant! If you are up for the challenge, call Allison on 0141 201 0849 or email allisonmckillop@hotmail.com

Yorkhill charity’s challenge not for faint-hearted

Brave souls from across Glasgow are being invited to take part in a charity abseil event in aid of Yorkhill’s family house.
The Ronald McDonald House at Yorkhill Hospital needs 100 volunteers to abseil the iconic Glasgow Finnieston Crane by the Clyde on Sunday, June 13th. It’s not for the faint hearted – the Finnieston Crane is nearly 200 feet high.
If you think you’re up to the task and can raise a minimum sponsorship of £110, give Allison a call on 201 0849 or email at allisonmckillop@hotmail.com.