By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE Southern Down’s very own spiderman has raised $1153 for charity and completed the abseil of a lifetime.
When abseiling instructor Eugene Thompson was challenged by his wife Vicky and adult daughter Rebecca to take part in the 36 Floors Challenge he jumped at the chance – literally.
On Saturday afternoon he took a leap of faith and travelled down the 10 Eagle Street building – a height of 140metres along with a number of other enthusiastic fund-raisers.
All money raised went to the Queensland Programs for the Save The Children Australia Organisation.
A proud Vicky Thompson, who was there watching, said her husband had done the region proud.
“Yes, I did go and watch,” she said after the event.
“When he finally got down, he said it was awesome and that he will do it again next year. Our daughter Rebecca has already put her hand up and said that dad and I will be doing it as a team next year. He was a bit sore in the back and ribs Sunday night though.
“But in saying that he absolutely enjoyed it,” she said.
So was she nervous watching Eugene, who has been abseiling since 1995, complete his steepest challenge.
“No, I wasn’t nervous, he does abseiling all the time and they had all the safety measures in place, probably more than usual,” she laughed.
