Reverse-bungee brave-hearts
Date published: 02 November 2009
SCORES of daredevils went up in the world in a seven-hour marathon charity fund-raiser for the Christie’s at Oldham appeal.
Despite strong winds and outbreaks of heavy rain, they took part in a hair-raising reverse-bungee jump in Greenfield .
The volunteers queued in pairs at the Royal George pub car park in Greenfield to take a turn in the open-framed, two-seat metal cage attached by bungee cords to 140ft high towers.
Winches stretched the cords to the top of the towers and and when power to an electromagnet holding the cage to the platform was switched off they were catapulted 200 ft into the air in less than 1.4 seconds.
According to the organisers, the acceleration is faster than that of a Ferrari.
After the initial thrust, the cage bounced around above watchers’ heads before returning the pilots to the ground to collect a congratulatory certificate for their bravery and fund-raising efforts.
Petite 37-year-old Gwen Phillips took part in the event with some fellow dental nurses from a Mossley dental practice.
She said: “It was absolutely awesome. It’s so fast you don’t have time to really think. It’s only after you hit the 200 ft mark that things start to sink in.
“I wasn’t at all frightened. I have never done anything like this before — but I wouldn’t have missed the chance to take part.”
Bernard Richards, a 60-year-old heating engineer from Diggle, joined his daughter, Lyndsey at the event.
He said: “I love white-knuckle rides so this experience was really special. It’s a fabulous way to raise funds for such a worthwhile cause.”
Keith Coulter is the bungee event co-ordination for the Doctor Joe Jaffe Appeal which is raising funds for the new cancer treatment centre.
He said: “Despite the horrendous weather there has been a terrific turn-out. The actual bungee site was in a sheltered spot so there was no danger to the fun-draisers themselves from the high winds.
“It certainly did not spoil their excitement — and many said they wanted to take the ride again.
“It has been a great success and early indications show we have raised more than £4,000 which will exceed the £20,000 target needed for the new equipment.”
The Dr Joe Jaffe Appeal, has recently begun fund-raising to provide equipment for the new Radiotherapy Centre due to open at The Royal Oldham Hospital early next year.
