Four festive fund raisers have abseiled down the famous National Lift Tower dressed as elves to raise money for a Northampton woman’s charity.
The quartet braved the cold and wind today to descend the 418ft tower to raise money for the Mark Burgan Memorial Fund, named after the Irish Guardsman who was killed by an improvised bomb in Afghanistan in March 2011. He was 28 years old.
His auntie Colette Linden, originally from Liverpool but now living in Overstone, set up the fund and organise events such as balls, family fun days and gala dinners.
The four doing the abseil were Miss Linden’s best friend Dave Cooper, aged 41, of Station Mews, Great Billing; family friend Sophie Monvid, aged 28, of Heather Lane, Lumbertubs; Miss Linden’s nephew Kevin Brockway, aged 41, of Milton Keynes and her cousin Kevin Crickmore, aged 60, of Birmingham.
Miss Monvid said: “It was really good. It was terrifying at the start but once you get over the edge it is so much better than being on the platform. It was not as scary as I thought it would be.”
Mr Cooper said: “It was brilliant and it is for such a great cause. Colette is such a dear friend.
“It was such an adrenaline rush being up there - especially when you are dressed as an elf! I’d definitely do it again - I’d do it again now.”
Miss Linden, aged 50, of Woodland Walk, Overstone, said: “Mark died in March and we set the charity up in November. So far we have raised about £7,500, which we have distributed between the four charities Mark supported.”
Her partner Ian Pilgrim, aged 63, said: “We wanted people to have fun in Mark’s name and to do good things in Mark’s name.”
The charity supports The Royal British Legion, The Irish Guards Appeal, the INVICTA Foundation and SANDS - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death.
For more information visit the charity’s website.
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