Come Fly With Me

Photo: Darren Robinson

The Mayor of Oldham's Zip Wire Challenge at Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda, North Wales. PIC shows Mayor Ateeque Ur-Rehman on first zip wire.

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Scroll down for Video

OLDHAM CHRONICLE Managing Editor DAVID WHALEY joined ‘Oldham on Tour’ at the weekend as they took to the skies for a good cause.

EIGHTY-FOUR intrepid fundraisers were flying without wings to set a Mayor of Oldham charity record in sun-drenched Wales.

Ferried to the Zip World site, in a disused slate mine, in coaches, the charity champions and their supporters, set a new single event record by raising £17,000 for the mayor’s chosen charities.

The day began at 7am when, like a step back in time, the charabancs collected their victims (sorry volunteers) at the side of the Chronicle office ­— it used to be under the Chronicle clock but the tram put a stop to that!There was a heady mix of anxiety and excitement and as we rolled into the principality in glorious weather Oldham Community Radio stalwart Dave McGealy stuck his microphone under a few noses to test the nerves (a loud bus-wide announcement by chief organiser John Battye interrupted my stint ­— nothing new for JB to get in the way!).

But what a trooper Mr Battye has been to the mayoral charity cause.

He spent months organising the event, got Sir Norman (Stoller Charitable Trust) to cover the cost of the coaches and admin and ran the whole event with military precision.

As the coaches pulled into the old slate mines you could see the colour draining out of a few of the faces as the mountainous slag heaps soared above us.

We were allocated a team (I was in the Green team) and 12 by 12 we trooped into the briefing huts to be kitted out in bright orange jump suit, safety harness and helmet (I had a camera fitted to the top to give Chronicle readers a bird’s-eye view of the run).

Then, with nervous laughter and chit chat all around, we were off following our guide and clapped out by those watching as though we were heading for the gallows!

The aforementioned green team included Ashton MP Angela Rayner and Councillor Vita Price - both determined ladies and showing us the way up the hill.

There we went off in twos to a platform whereby we were fastened into the runners like a caterpillar in a cocoon.

Then, suspended and somewhat helpless, you got the 3-2-1- countdown before being cast to the wind . . . and gravity.

Within seconds you were across the valley and smiling. That was the little zipper.... just a taster.

It tells you something of the size of big zipper that it took a 14-minute truck ride zig-zagging up the mountain to get to the launch pad for the main event.

This was bigger, much bigger and when the guide explained that you would be flying for approximately a minute, hit 60mph in 2.5 seconds and fall 21m while travelling over a mile, we all knew this was definitely out of the comfort zone.

To soar hundreds of feet over the lake with views of Anglesey in the distance was total exhilerating. By the time I was over the lake it felt like time stood still and then, as if on a spacewalk, it played out in slow-motion before the ground started to come back into focus and I hit the fast-forward button, rushing to the finishing point before being brought to a jolting halt.

A second round of rapturous applause greeted each of the groups on their return to base camp and Councillor Stephen Bashforth did his best Brian Hanrahan impression of counting all the fliers out and counting them all back again.

I can happily report we had no losses.

Chronicle photographer Darren Robinson was given special access to record our exploits and he could be seen racing up nearby slag heaps to get a better angle as Mayor Ateeque Ur-Rehman’s pink team made their descent.

“I would do it again in a instant,” said the happy Mayor on his return to ground.

It was a recurring theme amongst those who had come back down to earth, some having conquered real fears in doing so.

MRI transfusion nurse Angie Szczyrba (usual spelling, she told me, once her knees had stopped shaking) was one.

She froze at the top and could not get herself together and thought she was going to have to pull out.

However, she was full of praise for the Zip World team who calmed her down and gave her the confidence to fly. She’s another who wants to go again.

Dave Halliwell, fiancee of Councillor Price, was another who got the jitters at the top but he too showed great determination and had a smile as wide as the Manai Strait in the distance when he hit the finishing line.

His wife to be of April next year was very proud of him. And she was equally proud of her fellow Oldhamers for embracing the whole event.

“This has been fantastic. To see the community come together for something so worthwhile is just brilliant. We should have away-days such as this more often.

“Communities used to do this sort of thing in yesteryear and we should look to do other events - the number of people here today prove that if we put things on they will come.”

The Mayor was full of praise for all those who supported the day and gave special praise to John Battye for his organising skills.

“A big thanks also to the Oldhamers who put their hands in their pockets and helped raise a phenomenal amount of money. It touches the heart.”

Last word to flyer Julie Warren who completed her run with niece Ellise.

“I wasn’t looking forward to it but I was determined to do it and there was nothing going to stop me. I did it.” Go girl!

Cash raised from the event is being split between the mayoral charities of ACE, The Christie Oldham, Dr Kershaw’s and the Action Oldham Fund plus an additional charity for the day, the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the zipwire challenge can do at www.virgingiving.com/team/mayorzipline2016.