Page 10 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2018-flip_Neat
P. 10

High-rise, hair-raising





       event helps charities









               est Midlands Police Federation
               chair Rich Cooke was among a
       Wgroup of more than 40 people
       who abseiled from the top of the 200ft
       high Holiday Inn Express in Snow Hill,
       Birmingham to raise money for charity.
          Rich was joined by workplace
       representatives Roy Teague and Sid James
       and they all raised funds for Care of Police
       Survivors (COPS), the charity providing vital
       support to the families of fallen officers.
          “I felt very nervous as we climbed the
       stairs to the top but when it came to it I just
       focused on the wall, never looked down
       once, and it was soon over! If I’d have looked
       down, I fear I would not have gone over –
       ‘tunnel vision’,” says Rich,  “I remember
       nothing going down apart from focusing on
       the wall in front and the rope.
          “I felt really proud I’d overcome my fears
       and relieved I hadn’t bottled it with my kids
       watching and let down my sponsors. I raised
       £510 and my wife, who was roped in at the
       last minute, raised another £80 or so. I’ve
       got no plans for further fund-raising at the
       moment but the next will definitely be with   Keith Fraser, second from left, and other fund-raisers.
       my feet firmly on the ground.”       of the event I was that busy running about   descent. He descended the building like a
          Also taking part was former       and helping to make sure that things run   chimp whilst I was still struggling at the
       Wolverhampton deputy neighbourhood   smoothly that I didn’t have time to be   top.”
       policing commander Keith Fraser who   frightened until my name was called.     Luckily for all those taking part, the
       retired in October last year after 32 years’      “Being at the top of the building and   weather was perfect – not too hot and not
       police service and was the driving force   preparing for my descent was probably one   too cold, and it was a clear day though Keith
       behind the fund-raiser.              of the most terrifying moments of my life,   did not look around to admire the view.
          The Using Your Challenges To Achieve   that’s quite scary given the things I faced      Nevertheless, he still had some hairy
       event aimed to raise £20,000 to be split   during my 32 years of policing. The staff   moments.
       between COPS and M. A. D., a Birmingham   from abseiling company Redpoint were      “Some of the scariest times for me were
       Sport youth engagement programme that   really supportive and reassuring and if it   obviously climbing out onto the ledge and
       aims to turn around the lives of young   wasn’t for them talking me through every   then realising that there was nothing
       people in some of the most deprived areas   step, literally, I definitely would not have   stopping you from falling, apart from a rope
       of the city using activities, such as sport, to   been up to complete the abseil.  attached to your waist and you had to put
       tackle social issues.                   “I also thought that the company was   compete faith in strangers. I already had a
          Keith, who admits to being scared of   having a bit of a laugh when they put me   strategy in my head and that was that I
       heights, says: “The closer it got to the event   alongside Dominic Cunningham, one of the   wouldn’t look down and I wouldn’t admire
       the more scared I was getting but on the day   country’s top gymnasts, to complete my   the view and I would just look straight
    “                                                                            at the manager of Redpoint when he told
                                                                                 ahead at the hotel wall,” he explained.
                                                                                    “I must admit to shouting one expletive

                  Some of the scariest times for me were
                                                                                 me to look down as I was climbing over the
                  obviously climbing out onto the ledge and
                                                                                 edge, I did apologise to him afterwards.
                                                                                    “I do remember being part way down

                  then realising that there was nothing
                                                                                 and glancing to my right and seeing Lloyd
                  stopping you from falling, apart from a
                                                                                 was almost the bottom and I lost my
                  rope attached to your waist and you had                        House and because it’s all white, I thought I
                                                                                 bearings. It was at that point I glanced down
                                                                                 and I nearly filled my Pampers, I was
                  to put compete faith in strangers.                             nowhere near the bottom and I had a
                                                                                 serious wobble. The nerves got to me and it
                                                                                 was extremely scary.
       10      federation October/November 2018                                   www.polfed.org/westmids
                                                                          “
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