Jemma’s done up by zip promise

Date published: 18/09/2008

A RELUCTANT daredevil from Greenfield is preparing to leap from 95ft despite a fear of heights.

But charity fund-raiser Jemma Halman has only agreed to go ahead if 60 others join in the stunt on the weekend of October 11-12.

Jemma (35), an area manager for Marie Curie Cancer Care, is to take part in what is termed a “Big Diamond Zip”.

Participants will be harnessed to a wire, suspended from a viewing platform 95ft up at the Imperial War Museum North, Salford, then zip across the Manchester Ship Canal landing at the Lowry to raise funds for home nursing care.

Jemma said: “I am really scared of heights and I don’t like ladders one bit.

“I refuse to go up tall buildings and you won’t find me on an aeroplane without something to steady my nerves.

“Living in Saddleworth is a nightmare with all those hills and cliffs, plus I made the mistake of living in a three-storey house and I cannot bear to look out of the top windows.

“When my colleagues put me up to doing a 95ft high zipwire, I said I would only do it if 60 other people from the area took part as well.

“I wanted that number as a celebration of Marie Curie Cancer Care’s 60th anniversary.

“I only said that as I did not think they would get 60 people from the area, but more and more are signing up.”

Volunteers needed to help force Jemma to take part in the Big Diamond Zip should call Hannah Taylor on 0161-255 2809 or 07798-638 127.