Whilst I'm not afraid of heights, I'm definitely no adrenaline junkie.
And so the decision to abseil down Reading's Blade should have felt like a risky one.
I have surprised myself about how easy it was to make the decision. Yes, The Blade is 86 metres high, and I've never abseiled before. But it is all for a very worthy cause - Naomi House and Jacksplace. And that has made the decision very easy.
Naomi House and Jacksplace are hospices that support families from seven counties in southern England – Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Surrey, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight. They offer a full palliative care service that includes respite, emergency and end of life care for life-limited and life-threatened children and young adults from birth and into their later years.
Naomi House is a purpose built children’s hospice that provides a homely environment to children and young people with life-limiting conditions. They provide individualised specialist care and much needed respite for the whole family, enabling them to feel refreshed, rested and supported through the good days, difficult days and last days.
Jacksplace is the hospice for 16 years and upwards and has been specifically designed to meet the needs of young adults. It is the only purpose built hospice for teenagers and young adults in our region, and gives life-limited young people the privacy and dignity they crave.
Each year the charity needs to raise £ 7 million to run their whole service and deliver their plans. They receive less than 10% of their income from Government. The support they receive from individuals, groups, businesses and trusts means that they can provide care and support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge, when children, young adults and their families from our region need it most.