DIZZY heights were scaled at an Earlsdon retirement home last week as two residents successfully abseiled down a ten storey building.
Barrie Pountney, aged 69, and Maureen Morris, 75, were joined by 43 others at Earlsdon Park Retirement Village as part of a community partnership between the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Coventry Building Society.
The event helped raise funds for the charity’s four Coventry locations, with each venue submitting a ‘wish list’ of what they plan to do with the cash injection.
More than £8,000 was raised on the day with proceeds being shared among four ExtraCare locations in Coventry, including Earlsdon Park, Willowbrook, Princethorpe Court and Humber Court.
Despite never abseiling before, Maureen said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
She added: “It was a brilliant day and the views of Coventry from the roof of Earlsdon were fantastic.
“I was a bit apprehensive going over the edge but after that I was fine.”
Barrie said: “It was brilliant, I really enjoyed it and was more excited than nervous.
“It was a bit different from abseiling down Snowden.”
The event was the first fundraising activity since the Coventry’s direct mortgages team nominated ExtraCare as their community partner.
The scheme encourages branches and head office area to work with a local charity or community group to raise money and awareness for their partner.
Shanila Yasmeen, telephone mortgages coordinator and the team’s community champion, said: “We’re looking forward to doing some volunteering with ExtraCare, and we were able to raise even more for them with the abseil event.
“The team were all pretty nervous but it was worth it to help a group who do such fantastic work in our local community.”
