Stafford daredevils freefall abseil down Olympic Park sculpture
Three staff from the Red Box Web Design company in Stafford have raised over £1,000 for charity by inching their way by rope down the UK’s highest sculpture.
The iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stands at a nerve wracking 376ft high, with 360° views across the capital city for those brave enough to take on the challenge.
Goodluck Mboya had never abseiled before and admitted he was terrified: “I made the mistake of looking down, “ he recalled, “and that was it – I had to close my eyes for the rest of the way – it was so high up. I’m glad I managed to do it but I never want to do it again!”
Dan Lewis and Managing Director Rob Mackley had abseiled before but both admitted to being slightly anxious when they saw just how high they were. “I was a bit nervous when the guys went over the edge – that was the worst part, but it was well organised and so I knew everything would be alright.”
Dan used to be afraid of heights and seems to have conquered his fears by facing them – and this was his biggest challenge yet. “The testing part of this abseil was that there was nothing to bounce off so you had to freefall abseil down the structure. It was a bit scary but I’d do it again for sure.”
Red Box Web Design is celebrating 9 years in business in Stafford and the company is enjoying a busy period of expansion.
Rob says: “We try and do something for charity every year and are quite an active bunch. This was a great opportunity to challenge ourselves and to raise money for a great cause at the same time. Our clients have been extremely generous with their support.”
The money raised by the Stafford trio will go to Street Child Midlands’ Legacy of Ebola Appeal and help the 20,000 children left orphaned by the Ebola crisis in West Africa.