Parishioners eager for abseiling challenge

A QUARTET of thrillseekers from Torquay will abseil down a skyscraper in Melbourne’s CBD next month to help children in foster care.
Reverend John Webster and St Luke’s parishioners Carly Clement, Ken Farrow and Jean Young will descend all 27 stories of the St James Building in the Altitude Shift challenge on May 27 and 28 to raise money for Anglicare Victoria.
Altitude Shift is designed to “take people out of their comfort zone” and is the only extreme challenge of its kind in the state.
The Surf Coast Skywalkers, who will aim to raise about $1,000 each, have abseiled in the challenge before but say they are not as extreme and looked down, I very quickly stopped looking keeping me safe, just keep looking up’,” Reverend Webster said.
“What is quite fun is if it’s on the Friday, you’re thumbs up and lots of encouragement.”
Ms Young, who is a grandmother and plans to ask all her family to support her at a coming gathering, is looking forward to this year’s event.
“When you’re coming down, you can swing out and then you can see the skyline, all the other buildings… it’s all good, isn’t it?”
Reverend Webster said events such as Altitude Shift were an important part of supporting Anglicare’s work.
“Every time a foster child goes into a new situation, they’re automatically out of their comfort zone, but it really does make a difference to these kids’ lives.”
To donate to the Surf Coast Skywalkers, head to altitudeshift.everydayhero.com/au/surfcoastparish-s-skywalkers or visit St Luke’s church.