Thank you to our St Thomas' Abseil fundraisers

Catherine Hart, Director of Fundraising for our charities, writes about this year's St Thomas' Abseil.

It may have breath-taking views of some of London’s most iconic landmarks, but not everyone would jump at the chance to abseil 160 feet from the top of St Thomas’ Hospital.

While not for the fainthearted, over 400 daring abseilers took on the St Thomas’ Abseil 2022, raising an incredible ￡250,000 – and counting – for the family of charities that support Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

This is the sixth year we’ve held the St Thomas’ Abseil, and after a hiatus in 2020 and a slightly pared-back event in 2021, it was wonderful to bring people together again for such a celebratory two days – with clinicians abseiling alongside their patients, care teams coming together to raise funds, and passers-by on Westminster Bridge stopping to watch the action.

Supporters, staff and visitors soaked up the festival atmosphere in our spectator zone, enjoying music from the Radio Lollipop team at Evelina London, creating signs to cheer on the abseilers, and relaxing on colourful deckchairs in the late September sunshine.

As Director of Fundraising for the charities, I was inspired to hear the individual stories behind each participant’s abseil. Such as 18-year-old Alex, who raised almost ￡1,000 for the Evelina London team after they ensured she made a full recovery from a neurological condition that left her paralysed from the ribs down. And Kim, a Guy’s Cancer patient who wanted to prove that her diagnosis won’t stop her from living life to the max, while raising money to thank the fantastic team who provide her care.

This year we saw a record-breaking 240 Guy’s and St Thomas’ staff take part in the abseil, adding a whole new meaning to going over and above for their colleagues and patients, and raising incredible sums for the charities that support them. To name just a few – Lane Fox Remeo Respiratory Centre raised over ￡5,000 for Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity; the ‘Great Descenders’ raised over ￡3,000 to support children at Evelina London with serious heart conditions; and the Advanced Prostate Cancer Club raised almost ￡4,000 for their Guy’s Cancer Charity-funded patient support network.

A huge thank you to each and every person who took part in the St Thomas’ Abseil 2022, and everyone who supported them, including our sponsor Livingbridge. Every penny raised will help the Trust to go that bit further for patients and staff, beyond what the NHS can provide.

If you would like to take on this once-in-a-lifetime challenge next year, register your interest online now:

· Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity: www.gsttcharity.org.uk/support-us/fundraising-and-events/events/abseil/

· Evelina London Children’s Charity: www.evelinacharity.org.uk/support-us/fundraising-and-events/events/abseil/

· Guy’s Cancer Charity: www.guyscancercharity.org.uk/support-us/fundraising-and-events/events/abseil/