This is SI London Chilterns Regional President Jen Simpson’s report of her amazing abseil antics for www.moresmiles.org.uk to provide a ‘fit for the future’ expanded Paediatric Intensive Care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
“On 2
6th April at 11am I well and truly faced my fears and completed my abseil down the 150 foot, 10 storey Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Building at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington.
After being harnessed up, we were escorted up the staircase to the 10th floor and shown through some offices onto the balcony with stunning views across London, excited to spot the London Eye in the distance. After a safety briefing, it was time for me to climb onto the scaffolding platform and start my descent. I must say stepping backwards off that platform was the scariest thing I have ever done, made worse by my determination not to look down. After some words of encouragement and a moment to hide my fear and smile for the camera, I set off. It took me a minute or two to find my rhythm as I could only just touch the wall with my feet. Just as I let the adrenaline kick in the wall disappeared to make way for a window….after a little spin around I reconnect with the wall and down I went….reports from my onlookers afterwards was that I flew down really 
quickly….I wasn’t stopping to write postcards on the way down!
Back on terra firma, I felt an immense sense of accomplishment and was delighted to have raised £260 for the More Smiles Appeal, including an incredibly generous donation from SI Aylesbury and District.
It certainly felt like I was taking my theme of being ACTIVE (Aspirational, Collaborative, Tenacious, Inspirational, Vocal and Empowering for Women and Girls globally) to the extreme – but all worth it in the end.”
Well done Jen!!