Page 10 - WMPF Federation Oct-Nov 2018-flip

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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