TO CELEBRATE the 25th anniversary of the Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent the Kent Messenger Group is to support an exciting sponsored event that will test the mettle of KentOnline readers.

Fifty KentOnline readers are needed to rise to the challenge and take part in a thrilling zip wire event being staged at Folkestone Racecourse on Saturday, March 24.

The zip wire will be fixed four storeys up to the roof of the main stand where the TV cameras are positioned on race days allowing participants in a safety harness to zip down the 150 yard wire to the racecourse track.

This is the first time a sponsored event of this nature has been staged at the racecourse and event promoters, the Kent Walking Bus Project, are planning to auction on-line the right to be the first person to take part in the event.

Invicta Motors and the County Square shopping centre, Ashford, are both sponsoring the event and encouraging their staff to sign up and take up the charity challenge.

To take part our brave participants must raise a minimum of £75 in sponsorship. Proceeds from the event will be divided between the Pilgrims Hospices, which will receive 70 per cent of the funds raised, and the children’s road safety charity Kent Walking Bus Project, which will receive 30 per cent of sponsorship raised.

To apply for an abseil pack simply print off the application form at the end of this story and return it to the administrative volunteers supporting the event at: Kent Charity Challenge, Kent Walking Bus Project, 2 Beer Cart Lane, Canterbury CT1 2NN or reserve your event pack online at www.kentwalkingbus.org

The zip wire is being organised on the day by Avalon Adventures which is the professional firm that staged the highly successful abseil at Charter House last year for the Mary Webb Cancer Appeal. As well as having qualified staff, many of whom are former servicemen, the firm has full public liability insurance.

Lindsay Goode, fund-raising manager at the Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent joined sponsors at Folkestone Racecourse on Friday and enjoyed bracing winds from the roof of the main stand where participants will head off from.

He said: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting project and very grateful for the support of the Kent Messenger Group and sponsors Invicta Motors, County Square and Folkestone Racecourse.

“Having been to the racecourse and seen for myself the challenge facing the participants they will certainly have earned the backing and support of all those who sponsor them.

“This is a very exciting project which comes very early on in our 25th anniversary year. It will be one of many events we are inviting the public to support.”

Note: The Kent Messenger Group is supporting this charity event but is not the organiser of the event.

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