I finally completed my challenges for Stroke Association on Saturday 25th March 2015. Thank you everyone for your encouragement and support.

What I did and why

5 Events:

150ft Alton Castle Abseil

250ft Cathedral Quarry Abseil

918ft Zip Line of 500ft in height

3 internal abseils down the elevator shaft of Northampton Lift tower

420ft Extreme Abseil Northampton Lift Tower (external abseil)

I am pushing my height phobia to the absolute limits with an ‘Awesome-Foursome’ series of fundraising events for Stroke Association starting on Monday 19th January 2015 and finishing on Saturday 25th April 2015. 

I am not trying to conquer my phobias. I'm doing these events in order to make a personal sacrifice for charity.

I am fundraising in memory of my mother-in-law Pearla Davies, who passed away on 26/10/14. Pearla was directly affected by Stroke during her life and suffered the devastating consequences of Stroke during the last few years of her life in particular.

I have selected 4 SEPARATE ACTIVITIES that each requires me to make a personal sacrifice for charity, as I have a severe height phobia. 

The events steadily become more challenging and frightening and finish off with ‘The Big One’ on 28^th March 2015; an ‘Extreme Abseil’ that is almost half the height of The Shard!

My 4 Fundraising Events 

"The Big Drop Abseil" on Monday 19th January 2015 from the roof of Alton Castle, near Alton Towers, into the Churnett Valley; The castle is the height of a Cathedral but I abseiled down the rear, which is perched on a cliff almost 1000ft high. 

It frightened the life out of me!

250ft "Adrenaline Abseil" on Saturday 28th February 2015 from Cathedral "Cave" (the 400ft tall main chamber) descending into Cathedral Quarry, in the Lake District;

This abseil was a sheer drop and like a sheet of ice until the last section which had me spinning like a pendulum and abseiling freefall (no contact with anything). I was absolutely terrified and couldn't stand up at the end. I did it twice just for extra practice!

918ft ZIP LINE of 500ft in height on Saturday 14th March 2015 from the roof of the BALTIC Centre of Contemporary Art in Gatesead, across the River Tyne to Newcastle Quayside;

I froze on the edge for 10 minutes and shed a few tears on this one. It involved jumping and dropping and I felt as though I was leaping out of a plane without a parachute. It was traumatic!

 “Internal Abseils” down the elevator shaft of Northampton Lift Tower on Saturday 28^th March 2015;

Due to dangerously strong winds I had to complete the abseil inside, down the elevator shaft! I was not prepared for this as I have claustrophobia and the challenge instantly became an ordeal that was my worst nightmare.

I completed THREE internal abseils of different heights which took me to the next level in terms of facing my fears. I cannot contemplate anything beyond the ordeal I endured today. It was a fierce mental battle and I was so close to giving in and giving up as it's was just too overwhelming and too much to bare.

I finished with the BIG ONE on Saturday 25th April 2015; 420ft Extreme Abseil down Northampton Lift Tower.This Lift Testing Tower is the tallest permanent abseiling structure in the country.

Thank you for supporting me since January 2015 and giving me the encouragement to carry on. This was never about me conquering my phobias. It was always about making a personal sacrifice for charity in the only way I could.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPONSORING ME AND FOR YOUR KIND DONATION TO STROKE ASSOCIATION".

Nicola Fleming (Krysiak).