Hi,

What I am doing

On Sunday 1 July 2018 I am going to abseil off of the Forth Rail Bridge. 

As you know, Scotland is often windy and rainy and I will no doubt be less confident about clambering about on a Victorian bridge when push comes to shove, for want of a better metaphor, and I find myself peering over the edge of that ancient structure into the freezing July waters in the abyss below. So I'll probably have to muster all the courage and boldness I can find to go through with this mad act.  

What you can do

Sponsor me! I can tell you categorically I am not doing this for my own entertainment so you're not sponsoring me just to have a bit of fun.  As long as I can remind myself I am raising money for Age Scotland - the charity I work for which does fantastic work making life better for older people - I've every confidence I'll manage to launch myself off that bridge (with the appropriate safety gear).

What happens to your money?

Well it doesn't go to me personally, obviously - it funds our charity's work. 

Why Age Scotland?

One of the big problems Age Scotland is trying to tackle at the moment is Loneliness & Isolation. 100,000 older people in Scotland feel lonely most or all of the time, and 60,000 Scots spent last Christmas alone and not by choice. Imagine... 60,000 people! Loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and twice as bad as obesity. It harms mental health and doubles the risk of developing dementia. Age Scotland is campaigning to end unnecessary loneliness and supports hundreds of projects and organisations around Scotland which provide services to help older people enjoy a fulfilling, active later life. We do not want older people "sitting waiting to die" as one lonely older person once described their situation to us.

So please donate if you can!

I'd really appreciate any donation you can afford to make. I know the charity will use your money very wisely to improve the lives of older people.

Ta very much,

Simon