Leicester Market Fundraisers on Adrenaline Fuelled Challenge
Posted: Thu, 06 Apr 2017
Rob Manley, a senior markets officer at Leicester Market, and stallholder Michael Gibson, from F Gibson & Son fishmongers, raised more than £1,000 by taking on ZipWorld, in north Wales – billed as 'the longest zip line in Europe and the fastest in the world'.
They were raising money for local charity the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), which works to raise awareness of, and help prevent, sudden heart deaths, particularly in young people.
Rob said: "Over the past 14 or so years, together with the traders, I've done pretty much every fund-raising activity you can think of, from biking to Skeggy to running marathons. I reckon I've raised between £8,000-£10,000 for local charities.
"JHMT as a local charity seemed like an ideal one to raise money for. All of the stallholders, and friends and family, have been really generous in helping us to raise money for this great cause.
"The zipwire was awesome, albeit a bit worrying on the way up, when the lorry that takes you up there goes up through the clouds!
"It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience, but we survived – and even managed to enjoy it."
Steve Humphries, chair of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, said: "This was a great challenge to take on and we're really honoured to be chosen as the charity to benefit from Rob and Michael's efforts.
"All of the money raised will go towards our vital work, which includes helping to provide public-access defibrillators and ensuring that community sports clubs receive CPR training.
"Measures like these can help us to make an impact on sudden heart deaths, because if someone knows CPR and starts it immediately, and a defibrillator can be got to a person within eight minutes, the majority of people would survive."
As well as providing CPR training and defibrillator equipment, the JHMT runs an awards scheme, Inspire, for young people, and holds an annual conference to keep sudden heart deaths in young people on the top of the medical agenda.
To find out more about the charity's work and how you can support it, visit www.jhmt.org.uk.
