Twenty-nine brave and generous people of all ages launched themselves off the i360 to raise money for the Rockinghorse charity.

The intrepid gang abseiled from 450 feet above Brighton in the first iDrop Abseil event at the seafront attraction.

They included boxer Chris Eubank Jr, two 14-year-olds, Jake Heal and Carlota Melo, and 85-year-old daredevil grandmother Jeannine Brett.

Some did it to conquer their fear of heights.

There were also several people with strong connections to the charity, which is the fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.

The event raised more than £37,000 to help Rockinghorse buy a specialist X-ray machine for premature babies at the Trevor Mann Baby Unit in the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Despite the chilly weather, the abseilers braved through the cold with plenty of enthusiasm.

Rockinghorse chief executive Ryan Heal said: “It was an incredible day for Rockinghorse.

“Our first thanks go to the i360 for inviting us to work with them on this project. Our abseilers then took up the challenge to accomplish this awesome feat. They came out of goodwill and generosity.

“Together they have raised more than £37,000 for our cause and the impact of those funds will be huge for the children in our city that need the most help.

“Huge thanks to everyone involved, a day for many to remember for ever.”

Steve Bax, i360 executive director, said: “Our first iDrop abseil event has been a fantastic success and the participants have already raised a huge amount of vital funds for Rockinghorse.

“We would like to thank the brilliant team at Belay Rope Access which operated the abseil, Chris Eubank Jr for his support and every other person who took part today.

“We are thrilled with the response from the participants and the wider public. We’re delighted to announce that we will soon be launching public abseil events – registration is now open on our website.”
 

Joel Adams, The Argus Reporter

Well, that was the most physically unpleasant thing I’ve ever done… and I’ve raced triathlons, eaten deep-fried locusts and interviewed politicians.

I had signed up to do the “proper” abseil – in which I would be responsible for controlling my own descent. But when the time came, my body was simply having none of it.

As I leant out backwards into thin air, squatting and letting the rope take my weight, I prepared to push off and away.

But my right hand – the hand holding the rope to feed it through the descender - was shaking so violently the superb guys from Belay wondered whether I was going to be able to make it all the way down.

They suggested I switch to the automated descent rope, strung from the door at the opposite side of the pod.

I did, allowing the chaps to lower me down, and while the feeling of Spiderman-ing out down the outside of the pod to hang in the nothingness of the sea breeze was not terribly relaxing, I was at least spared the indignity of making the descent in the pod itself!

You’re supposed to say that once you’re dangling in the wind looking at the magnificent vista below you it’s all wonderful fun and a great thrill.

But the truth is it’s a long way down, you can feel each tug and lurch as they lower you, and the rope doesn’t look any thicker or sturdier when you’re clinging to it for dear life than it does from the ground.

It wasn’t that bad actually, it was quite fun, and the view was great. At least I can say I’ve done it.

Never again though!

Chris Eubank Jr, Boxer

The middleweight boxing champion admitted he had never abseiled until Saturday.

The 28-year-old from Brighton said he was taking part in the event for a wonderful cause.

He said: “I hope everyone can join me in this great cause. Please help support the Rockinghorse charity as they provide so much care for children.

“I am not scared of heights and the 20 minutes of abseiling was very exciting for me. When I got to the i360 I just couldn’t wait to do it.

“I enjoy that adrenaline rush like I have in boxing. It plays a very big part in intense sports and I got the similar experience.

“I am an adrenaline junkie, I like that high and moment of excitement.”
To donate to Chris’s page, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-eubankjr. 


Jake Heal, 14

The Northease Manor School pupil was one of the youngest at the charity abseil and also the first out of the pod. 

He was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, which causes a range of physical symptoms and learning difficulties. 

Two weeks ago Jake, from Hove, had knee surgery but despite that, the brave lad continued with the abseil.

He said: “I’ve abseiled before but never from this height. 
“I was a little bit scared but I would do it again. 
“I want to donate to the Rockinghorse because they’ve helped me so much and I want to give something back to them.
“I’ve raised more than £4,000 so far and I hope we’ll raise more.”

Mother Katie Heal, 46, said: “We have lots of support from the school and our church.
“Jake recently had an operation and he did physio three times a week to make sure he was prepped for the abseil. We’re very proud of him.”
Go to justgiving.com/fundraising/jake-heal360 to support Jake. 


Colin Brace

The 53-year-old businessman confessed he was terrified of heights. 
Colin, from Hassocks, did the challenge dressed in a baby costume to reflect his strong support for the charity. 

He has been an established businessman for 30 years and is the director of Harbour View Developments and a founding member of the Brighton and Hove Property Consortium, which has raised more than £100,000 for the city’s charities.

As a family man, and having known several families whose children have started their lives in the Trevor Mann Baby Unit, Colin is immensely proud of the work that Rockinghorse does.

He said: “I am doing this because a family friend’s son used the Trevor Mann Unit.

“The charity has done so much great work and I feel we should chip in and support them.

“I was very scared before I abseiled down, but I just focused on what I had to do.

“I dread heights but at the same time I wanted to do this. I want to conquer my fear of heights as well as help the Rockinghorse.

“So far I have raised £1,122. The money will buy a new specialist X-ray machine. I hope you can help make a difference for the unit.”
Support Colin at justgiving.com/fundraising/colin-brace-idrop. 


Jeannine Brett

The “daredevil grandma” took the plunge for the charity and has, so far, raised more than £1,500.

Three years ago Jeannine, from Brighton, was diagnosed with breast cancer – and she had an operation four months before she abseiled down

The Grand hotel in Brighton with her grandson Ben. She raised money for Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation.

In 2015 she was named Grandparent of the Year in The Argus Community Star Awards which acknowledge the unsung heroes of the community.

Jeannine hopes the money will help the charity buy digital radiography equipment allowing doctors to take X-rays of pre-term babies at a lower radiation and get instant images. 

Support Jeannine at justgiving.com/fundraising/jeannine-ben.

Clare Huntington

Clare did the abseil in memory of her son, Christopher, who died shortly after birth. 

Clare gave birth to twins in the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath,  in 2014.

As the family was grieving, her daughter Valentina fell ill 24 hours later and was placed in the Trevor Mann Baby Unit where she was cared for around the clock for almost two weeks.

Clare, 40, from Brighton, is very grateful for the care, empathy and kindness shown by medical staff to her babies and especially for saving her daughter’s life. 

After seeing first hand all the equipment needed and used in the unit, she wanted to give something back. So far she has raised more than £4,500.

She said: “I am also doing this for Christopher, it will be my way of remembering him. I have been waiting for the right opportunity to celebrate him and I feel this is it. 

“Dangling down 450ft from a rope was my way of saying thank you and doing something for my baby boy.”
Support Clare at justgiving.com/fundraising/clare-huntington1.