Swanley Charity Shop Manager to abseil down UK's tallest sculpture in memory of his Mum

ellenor charity shop manager, Stephen Simmonite, is to join a team of daredevil fundraisers to abseil 262feet down the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest sculpture on Saturday 18 July 2015 to raise funds to care for families facing terminal illness in North Kent.

Stephen, who managers our Swanley store is taking part in the abseil after experiencing the loss of his mother. Stephen’s family received help and support from ellenor and he now wants to raise any additional funds he can so that others can receive the same help.

Stephen told us what motivated him to take on the challenge ”After my Mother lost her fight with breast cancer I begun working as a volunteer in one of the ellenor shops. I am now the manager of the ellenor shop in Swanley, and whenever I can I try to raise extra funds so that as many people as possible can get the same help that my Mother, my two sisters and myself got from all the staff at ellenor.”

Stephen will be abseiling down the The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, taking in the breath-taking views 20 miles across Londons skyline, including iconic buildings such as The Gherkin, St. Pauls, Canary Wharf and Wembley Stadium.

Stephen, who is no stranger to fundraising for ellenor, says ”It's only three weeks to go and I keep getting asked aren't you scared! Well no, the ellenor Hospice is such an amazing place I would go through fire for them, in fact I have I did a Firewalk in 2011!”

The challenge, which is every acrophobics nightmare, is being organised as part of Thirty30 Challenges to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the founding of the charity.  Events Manager for ellenor, Hayley Brown says “We wanted to do something special to celebrate this milestone in providing the best care and support to families facing terminal illness. People like Stephen, and his personal story really sum up what Thirty30 is all about, and why our care is so vital.”

To join Stephen and grab one of the few remaining places visit www.ellenor.org/arcelormittal-orbit-abseil or call Kirsty on 01474 320007. To sponsor Stephen and help him smash his £400 target go to www.justgiving.com/simmonite2015