A TEAM of fearless Santas took on the challenge of abseiling down the iconic 60ft Cheddar Gorge to raise funds for St Margaret’s Hospice Care.
The event was filled with festive cheer and community spirit and brought in more than £20,000, with additional donations still coming in and being counted.
Participants were guided by experts from Cave and Climb and received training and safety gear before embarking on their thrilling descent. Family, friends, staff, and volunteers gathered to cheer on the abseilers, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere, on Sunday December 1,
Adding to the festive spirit, volunteer elves greeted participants at the finish line with medals and mince pies generously donated by local business Dough of Taunton.
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Hayley Milne, head of communications at St Margaret’s, took part in the Santa abseil alongside one of the hospice’s healthcare assistants, Anna, who completed the abseil with her two children.
Hayley said: “It was an amazing experience. I was a bit nervous at the top of the gorge, but once I took the first step, there was no stopping me. I really enjoyed it.
“A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored me and supported this year’s Santa abseil. The money raised will make a massive difference to patients and their families.
“Anna has said the ward team are hoping to purchase another cuddle bed for the in-patient unit which is £15,000, and allows families to spend precious moments together in comfort. The money raised from the abseil could go towards making that happen.”
The event was sponsored by Blackdown Finance and their director and financial planner Simon Cutler, who is also a hospice supporter. He participated alongside his colleagues, who he said “thoroughly enjoyed the experience”.
Merle Harrison-Croft, events manager at St Margaret’s, expressed her gratitude to everyone involved, saying: “We are absolutely delighted with the incredible response to this year’s Santa abseil.
“A huge thank you to our brave Santas for taking on this amazing challenge in aid of the hospice. The support we’ve received from our community has been remarkable, and it was heartwarming to see so many people come out to cheer on our participants.”
St Margaret’s is a community funded charity, caring and supporting people of all ages with life-limiting illnesses across Somerset for almost 45 years. In 2023, they supported just under 5000 people with the support of approximately 800 volunteers.