Melton grandmother conquers height fears by abseiling down skyscraper

Helen Gardner prepares to abseil down Broadgate Tower in London with her instructor by her side
Helen Gardner heroically abseils down Broadgate Tower in London to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-114424001Helen Gardner heroically abseils down Broadgate Tower in London to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-114424001
Helen Gardner heroically abseils down Broadgate Tower in London to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-114424001

But grandmother Helen Gardner, of Melton, overcame her fears to do just that and raise more than £1,000 for the hospital which has treated her partner in his long-term battle with cancer.

Staff at Nottingham City Hospital and the ordeals faced by partner Stef (65) were uppermost in her mind as she grasped the rope at the top of Broadgate Tower in London.

“It was a bit scary because it was so high up,” said Helen (53).

Helen Gardner who abseiled 541ft down a tower to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-115059001Helen Gardner who abseiled 541ft down a tower to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-115059001
Helen Gardner who abseiled 541ft down a tower to raise money for a hospital which has cared for her partner EMN-180409-115059001

“I don’t know where I got the courage from to do it.

“Getting ready and then going up in the lift, I was absolutely fine.

“But when we got to the top of the building I just couldn’t look over the edge.

“I had someone next to me giving me advice and he said ‘now sit down as though you are sitting in a chair’.

“That was very scary but I got some momentum going and it took about 11 minutes to get to the bottom.

“I was ready for a glass of Prosecco at the end of it all.”

Family members cheered her on, including daughter Emma and two granchildren.

Proceeds will go to the hospital’s Maggie’s Centre and its haematology unit.

Go to her fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ to sponsor her.