A DARING 82-year-old Rubery man has raised more than £2,000 for Cancer Research after abseiling down one of Birmingham’s tallest buildings.
Michael Richardson, who has battled bowel cancer and has leukaemia, diabetes and other conditions, undertook the breath-taking feat from the top of the Hampton by Hilton building in Broad Street to the bottom.
He described the experience as ‘exhilirating’ and told The Standard: “I really enjoyed it, initially I was a little bit apprehensive but once I started the descent, I quite enjoyed it.
“I wouldn’t mind having another go.”
He took advice from abseiling professionals – a soldier who abseiled down The Shard in London recently and an retired army major – and he developed a unique method of descending the hotel very quickly.
Michael underwent surgery for bowel cancer at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital in June after being diagnosed in April.
He saw the poster for the abseil at the QE and decided to do it to ‘give something back’ for the treatment he had received.
And the fund-raising exceeded his expectations – he originally set himself a target of £1,000 but has now seen more than £2,000 collected.
Michael thanked everyone for backing him and for their contributions.
The fund-raising page is still open and anyone else wanting to contribute can visit https://www.justgiving.com/Michael-Richardson10/ and pledge money there.
