Putting a brave face on it: London Hughes before her death-defying abseil yesterday
London Hughes, the Thornton Heath-based CITV presenter and comedian, has managed to abseil from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit in London’s Olympic Park, and live to tell the tale.
Hughes joined BBC Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts and actor Kate Holderness as they grappled with their fears for the terrifying fundraising drop of 262 feet from the east London landmark for Barnardo’s yesterday.
Every participant in the Barnardo’s abseil was sponsored with the aim of raising £10,000 overall for the country’s largest children’s charity.
With her feet planted safely back on terra firma, Hughes said: “I feel ecstatic now I’ve done it.
“But I’m very happy to be back on the ground.
“Every part of your body says ‘Stop doing this, why are you doing this? You could be at home eating biscuits right now’.
“But I persevered and I did it. And now I’d do it again.
London Hughes starts her abseil – all in a good cause
“The whole time I was just thinking about the kids and how I was doing it for the kids. Barnardo’s is my favourite charity and I would do anything they want me to.”
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “Having taken part in the event last year I know how nerve-wracking it is to abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower and I’m extremely grateful to everyone who took part and helped raise funds to help us continue our vital work.
“Children are at the heart of everything we do, so it was great to see our courageous service users enjoying the challenge. Barnardo’s believes in children and they showed that if they believe in themselves they can achieve amazing things.”
Last year 272,000 children, young people, parents and carers were supported by Barnardo’s through more than 1,000 services, such as young carers, care leavers, foster carers and adoptive parents, training and skills or parenting classes. The Barnardos website is: www.barnardos.org.uk
If you think you’re brave enough to match London Hughes’ challenge, you can sign up for a Team Barnardo’s fundraiser. Go to www.barnardos.org.uk/challengeevents or call 020 8498 7091.
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