Mayor takes tower plunge for local charities

The Mayor of Bury is leading by example by abseiling down the borough’s famous Peel Tower landmark.

Councillor Sharon Briggs is now asking all members of the community to join her in the Tower Challenge and raise money for her chosen local charities.

The event takes place on Saturday 26 April, at the 128 ft Peel Tower on Holcombe Hill, Ramsbottom. All proceeds will go to Making Space and Bury Cancer Support. 

It ties in with the aims of I Will If You Will, a national pilot scheme funded by Sport England and the Lottery to encourage women and girls to become more active.

Cllr Briggs said “I will if you will!” to her daughter and mayoress Natalie Wells, who has now agreed to join the mayor on the abseil fund-raiser.

Cllr Briggs said: “I must be going mad - I’ve never abseiled in my life! But I’m not going to refuse a challenge that could mean so much to charities in Bury. Why not come along and join me?”

The mayor has set up a Just Giving page for sponsorship at: http://www.justgiving.com/Sharon-Briggs1

Those who take part will meet at the Territorial Army base at Holcombe Brook and be taken up to the monument in jeeps when it is their turn to do the abseil.

The team from I Will If You Will will also be there. I Will If You Will is a movement to get the women and girls of Bury moving. With National Lottery funding from Sport England and being launched by Bury Council, this initiative is about women getting together and trying something new: doing something for themselves for a change and having a laugh while they do it.

This £2.8 million behavioural change project is rigorously testing what works in changing the sporting habits of women and girls. Best practice from Bury will be used to inform strategy to help increase the number of women participating in sport across the country. 

For more details of how to take part in the abseil and raise money, call Rachel Yates on 07738 148284 or email rachel.yates@makingspace.co.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 April 2014.

Picture/interview opportunities: The event lasts from 10am to 5pm, and the Mayor is expected to abseil at around 11am – please check for exact time.