Elite Royal Marines, known for their fearless operations in the world’s toughest terrains, are taking on a new challenge – leading the first-ever charity abseil down the iconic Pears Building at the Royal Free Hospital.
This May, thrill-seekers will have the chance to descend the 70-foot-tall building under the expert supervision of these world-class commandos, all in support of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL).
Lieutenant Colonel Gary Veacock, whose wife received life-saving treatment for a neuroendocrine tumour at the Royal Free Hospital, said: “We are your Royal Marines – the nation’s Royal Marines – and it’s an honour to partner with the Royal Free Charity to give back for the exceptional care provided to our families.
“We’re bringing our expertise, gained from extreme conditions around the world, to ensure participants have an unforgettable and safe experience abseiling down the Pears Building.”
Funds raised will directly support RFL’s 17,000 NHS staff and the two million patients they care for each year at Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and the Royal Free hospitals.
The abseil takes place on Friday 9 May and Saturday 10 May from the rooftop of the Pears Building – home to the Royal Free Charity and UCL’s Institute of Immunity and Transplantation.
With spaces limited, the Royal Free Charity urges daredevils to sign up now and secure their spot on this unique adventure. Visit www.royalfreecharity.org/abseil to sign up today.
Other ways to support your NHS
Abseiling from a 70-foot height isn’t for everyone – but there are plenty of other ways to make a difference. Whether you prefer running, cycling, or organising your own event, the Royal Free Charity welcomes all fundraising efforts. Every challenge, big or small, helps fund vital NHS support and patient care.
How will your fundraising make a difference?
As the NHS charity partner of RFL, the Royal Free Charity funds services and innovations beyond what the NHS alone can provide.
For example, It’s making a huge difference to cancer services by securing funding and delivering services that would otherwise not be available.
• Cancer patients at the Royal Free London are the first in the UK to benefit from the Quadra PET-CT scanner purchased by the charity. This is speeding up the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The scanner is also a huge boost for research, dramatically widening the pool of people eligible for trials.
• It’s the only NHS charity in the UK that delivers scar tissue therapy, microblading and acupuncture to NHS patients with cancer, making a huge difference to their physical and emotional recovery.
Thanks to generous public donations and fundraising, the charity can deliver services like therapy dogs, therapeutic massage therapy to aid patient recovery and a welfare rights advice service preventing homelessness and financial hardship for vulnerable patients.
Through its work, the Royal Free Charity enhances NHS care, speeds up medical breakthroughs and provides invaluable patient support.
Find out more or get involved at www.royalfreecharity.org
