Andrew abseils down the Shard for charity
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, on Monday abseiled down from the Shard, Britain’s tallest building, to raise money for charity.
Prince Andrew abseiled from the 87th floor of the skyscraper to the 20th floor and was followed by Ffion Hague, wife of British foreign secretary William Hague, as 40 fundraisers took part in the event in order to raise £1 million for charity.
The effort raised funds for two charities dedicated to helping those facing personal and physical challenges: The Outward Bound Trust and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.
Twenty participants took part in a full abseil, which spans 250 metres between the summit of the building at the 87th floor down to the 20th floor. The other 20 participants abseiled the shorter but highest distance between the summit and 78th floor.
The challenge of abseiling down the glass facade of the 310-metre building in the London Bridge area, which the Duke of York had himself inaugurated recently, was tough especially with cloudy weather.
Fifty-two-year-old Prince Andrew raised £294,499.71 till Monday and Ms Hague has raised £124,370.
The fundraisers all received Royal Marine standard training at the London Fire Brigade HQ in Paddington, where they learnt expert techniques which helped them to master the specialist equipment required for the abseil, Commando Spirit charity said.
“I have to say the most difficult bit was walking up the stairs,” the Duke of York said after the adventure, which took him almost an hour. “I will never do it again,” the former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, who served in the Falklands War, said.
Describing the experience as terrifying, Ms Hague said, “I am very glad it is over and I wouldn’t necessarily want to do it again but, my goodness, I am glad I have done it.”
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