DESPITE having a life-long fear of heights, Hastings Co-op chief executive officer Allan Gordon will be one of 14 "community leaders" abseiling down nine storeys of the Rydges Hotel in Port Macquarie tomorrow, January 23, for a good cause.
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The "Leaders Leap for Life" is taking place to raise money and appreciation for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
All the participants were involved in attempts to raise at least $2000 for the Rescue Helicopter, and as of early this week the Wauchope effort had raised just under $3000, Mr Gordon said.
Local Westpac Rescue Helicopter fundraising stalwarts Thelma and Bob Campbell have put in a "huge effort", he said, selling raffle tickets for a "massive" Australia Day liquor hamper worth up to $450.
Rydges is also selling tickets to a "Drop Zone party" for people to watch the abseiling take place.
Mr Gordon said he was looking forward to the event, even though he has a strong fear of heights.
He has been abseiling once before, after receiving a Father's Day present of a descent down Jolly Nose Mountain, near Bonny Hills, so at least he knows what to expect.
"But the best part is raising money for the Rescue Helicopter - that's what it's all about," he said.
Other leaders taking the Leap for Life include the Holiday Coast Credit Union's Neville Parsons, Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling, and Port News' Sue Cannon.
"The Leaders Leap for Life is an abseiling event which is set to take place on the north facing wall of the nine-storey high Rydges in Port Macquarie," organisers say.
"Our 14 fearless leaders will summon their courage to take the leap and raise money to participate!
"This event is not only to challenge our leaders' own fear of heights, it's a way for them to reflect on what it feels like to place their lives into someone else's hands, not unlike what a mother might feel handing over her sick or injured child, or a husband watching their injured wife, who may have been in a terrible accident, be handed over to the helicopter crew to be flown to medical care and safety."
