Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

On Saturday 21 April,  I completed my aim of abseiling 80 ft at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, in aid of CrossReach. Click here to see videos of the abseil.

In the run-up to the big day, I was getting more and more anxious. I have a fear of heights and was half expecting a terrible accident! But I asked friends to pray for me, and the abseil experience ended up being fun and even funny.

Our friend Hugh Trevor had agreed to video the abseil, and my husband Ian operated a second camera, while my daughter Katy took still shots and her boyfriend Adam acted as porter. (The completed video will be uploaded shortly, and will also be available at: www.crossreach.org.uk.) We arrived at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena ahead of time, and watched some very brave people climbing in the main atrium. At 1 p.m. I met my instructor, and  was relieved to find that he was used to helping abseilers with acrophobia. I got kitted out, and had to sign an ominous form agreeing that I knew the activity carried a danger of death. We stationed my camera crew on the middle floor, and then went up to the abseil point on the top floor. I felt scared as I was clipped into the harness, and really needed some persuasion to go out onto the abseil ledge. I'd warned Hugh that I might jump off with a piercing scream. In fact I repeated the Bible verse I'd got while praying that morning: "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

To my amazement, once I found the rope really was attached, I started to enjoy things. I didn't dare look down, and I couldn't turn myself to face the cameras, but I managed a few words of commentary. When I caught a glimpse of the orange fence at the landing area, I tried to move my feet into position, and on the video it looks as if I'm trying to swim uphill!

I landed safely, and said "That was almost fun." I privately thought, "Never again!" Then Hugh said that the sun was in the wrong place and we needed a second recording. We went to a different part of the arena with better lighting. My mind has blanked out all memory of the second abseil! Finally, my instructor suggested having a go at rock climbing, as I'd paid for a taster course of everything available. We went to the low rock where they teach seven-year-olds, and I tried to climb it but was too dizzy to reach the top! I lowered myself down, got out of the harness, hugged Ian and Katy - and collapsed on the floor with sheer relief! (I didn't faint, just got jelly legs.)

It was a terrific experience, and I hope that I can collect plenty of money for CrossReach. I've succeeded in challenging my fear of heights, and almost enjoyed it!

Information about CrossReach:

CrossReach is the Social Care Council of the Church of Scotland. It aims to help the most vulnerable in society. This includes prisoners and their families.

Prisoners are more likely to re-offend if they lose contact with their families and friends. Yet few are able to serve their sentence in the prison nearest to their home. Their families may have to travel long distances to see them. CrossReach's Visitors Centre in Perth aims to reduce the stress on prisoners' families. It is called "a place of hope". This has been a fundraising project for the Church of Scotland's Guild of St Margaret.

The Visitors Centre is situated adjacent to the prison gate. It provides a warm and welcoming environment to people visiting a family member or friend in prison. The staff work closely with the Scottish Prison Service staff in the visits area, to ensure that families are provided with appropriate information and that visits are as positive as possible for all involved. The service also provides help to families of those in prison with literacy skills, benefits advice, parenting skills and advice and information on a number of other issues.

Why have I chosen to abseil in aid of CrossReach? In the past, I was known for sponsored running and swimming. Now that I have hypothyroidism, this is beyond me. So I am going for a personal challenge: I have a fear of heights which I want to overcome. Please support me by donating to CrossReach.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.