Charlie Richardson, a 71-year-old volunteer at our Trust, completed his second daring challenge on Saturday (7 September).

Along with the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Michael Deon Burton, he abseiled down Broadgate Tower, one of London’s tallest buildings at 530 foot. It was all to raise money for the King George and Queen’s Hospital charity, specifically for our Volunteer team.

The grandfather-of-seven, who is no stranger to daredevil challenges after doing a skydive just last year for the same cause, said: “I really enjoyed it. The worst bit is at the top when you’re stepping off backwards and can’t see where you’re going.

“When the instructor told me to let go of the top of the building so I could hold the rope I said ‘you’re joking’, but he wasn’t! I could hear my family cheering me on, especially my six-year-old grandson Harrison, but I didn’t want to look down from too high up.

“The mayor was really good to do it with me and he’s already talking about doing something else next year.”

So far Charlie, of Junction Road, Romford, has raised around £1,000 with donations still coming in. To add to his total, visit his JustGiving page . 

Charlie is passionate about supporting our Trust after his wife Marion was successfully treated for breast cancer with us around 15 years ago.

Charlie and the mayor are pictured ready for their abseil.