On March 17, I'll be joining the first 30 people ever to abseil from the top of the i360 tower in Brighton and Hove.

I've never done any abseiling or skydiving before, but nonetheless I'll be live-streaming the 450ft drop for The Argus website. 

So this will be my first ever experience of anything like this... and I'll be broadcasting it live... and it's 450ft down in the clear blue sky... and I won't even be able to swear. Brilliant!

Why am I doing this? Well, the i360 got in touch with The Argus, where I'm the local government reporter, and told us about this brilliant charity event.  And the editor asked if anyone wanted to cover it. It seemed like a good idea at the time... :-/

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The first public abseil from the British Airways i360 pod will take place in aid of Sussex children’s charity, Rockinghorse.

Thrill-seekers will be fitted with safety harnesses and lowered, either manually or mechanically, from the open pod doors at 450ft. The iDrop abseil challenge will be operated by Belay Ropes Access and is open to the first 30 people to sign up who can raise a minimum £1,000 each in sponsorship.

British Airways i360 in Brighton is the world’s tallest moving observation tower, with a giant glass pod rising from ground level to 450ft. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye. 

Executive director Steve Bax said: “The view from the British Airways i360 pod at 450ft is quite breath-taking, and for the very first time we will be opening the doors while the pod is at the top of the tower and allowing members of the public who are brave enough to abseil back down again. The highly experienced team at Belay Ropes Access will be operating the event and we are all very excited that the participants will be raising funds for local children’s charity Rockinghorse.”

Belay Ropes Access director Iain Tindall said: “The sheer exposure of
British Airways i360 is what makes this abseil special because unlike other venues, you are descending in open space rather than against a wall. And the position on the seafront makes it unique. I would challenge anyone not to feel a few nerves when faced with a 450ft drop, so even for experienced people, this will present a fearsome challenge.”

Rockinghorse is the fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. It also supports the Trevor Mann Baby Unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Special Care Baby Unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath. 

The charity abseil at British Airways i360 will help Rockinghorse to raise funds for a new specialist x-ray machine for premature babies at the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. 

Rockinghorse chief executive Ryan Heal said: “We are delighted to have been chosen as beneficiary of the very first iDrop challenge! This is certainly a unique event and a fantastic opportunity for any thrill-seeker to take on the 450ft drop. Having recently celebrated our 50^th anniversary, this is a great start to 2018 and continuing to support local children’s centres and paediatric services across Sussex.”

For full information about #iDropAbseil and to register, please email Hannah Seltzer at Rockinghorse: Hannah.Seltzer@rockinghorse.org.uk