Blinking heck, it's a long, long way down!

Photo: Anthony Miller

EASY does it . . . Patricia begins her descent.

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GRAVITY will pull you down but it won't stop one soon-to-be 80-year-old doing what she wants.

Royton resident Patricia Abram showed no signs of age catching up with her as she abseiled down Rochdale town hall on to mark her up and coming 80th birthday and raise money for Dr Kershaw's Hospice.

Fearless Patricia, of Wetherby Drive, proved she wasn't just a "little old lady" and has so far raised £875 for the hospice after rappelling down the 190ft tower.

She had originally considered doing a parachute jump for her 80th, on August 24, but decided it was a bit too far from the ground.

After climbing numerous stairs to reach the top of the tower, Patricia admitted she became tired part way through the abseil and needed a rest for a moment, but other than that completed the abseil with no problems.

Patricia said: "We had to walk up all these stairs to get to the top. As I got down I got to a point where I was bit tired, so I laid back a bit and relaxed, I was looking at the sky. I think I needed the rest because of the walk up.

"I had no fear, I thought it was exciting and I thought I am doing it and I felt fine. My brother-in-law asked if I would do it again and I said 'yes'."

She said: "It was good, I think one of the things is whilst my brain is says I am only 22 in my head, my body says something different. But I think give it a go. I would do it again.

"I think someone mentioned 200ft but I don't know if that is true. I know when I first looked at it I thought blinking heck, but the excitement was there."

Having so far raised £875 she has more than doubled her original target. "I thought if I get that it would be great but everyone has been so generous." Patricia said.

"From the milkman to the hairdressers, neighbours to friends and family. Everyone has been wonderful, I am thrilled.

"Dr Kershaw's do such a great job and until you need it you don't know."

Speaking of her next adventure Patricia, who has been on snow mobile expeditions in Iceland and visited Niagra falls, said: "For the next adventure we were going to go to France again, but we have changed our minds so we're going to go somewhere where we don't know, going to go to Portugal and find out what is going on there."

She added: "I think life is for living and it is a pity that so many people think they can't rather than whether they can. Don't worry about what you can't do but what you can! That is why I looked at abseiling. Go and have a look at what you can do."

Those wishing to donate can do so at justgiving.com/fundraising/patricia-abram.

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