RESIDENTS are being urged to hit the heights as a Morpeth businesswoman has come up with an exhilarating way to raise money for charity.
Oxfam encourages people across the country to put on activities to link with International Women’s Day, as the proceeds will help females in a range of countries who need support, and Emma Scott took part for the first time in 2012. Hundreds of people enjoyed a programme of entertainment and activities at La Bodega Tapas Bar in Newgate Street.
Now she is calling on thrill-seekers and those who would like to try something adventurous to sign up for the Morpeth Get Together Zip Wire.
Participants will be zipping from a 150ft-high mobile crane along 200ft of wire. More than 120 people have already agreed to do it, including Mayoress of Morpeth Lynne Horton, Morpeth Rugby Club players wearing tutus, a 12-strong wedding party, complete with bride and groom, and the organiser herself, who runs Emma Bunting.
The 43-year-old said: “This year with Oxfam Get Together we wanted to celebrate women overcoming their own fears to achieve what they thought was impossible. I had a bad fall at home last year and since then I am terrified of heights.
“So I thought about creating a fund-raiser celebrating women overcoming their fears – and we’ve ended up with a crane the height of a six-storey building and weighing 60 tonnes.
“I am obviously dreading the moment I will step into the cage, but when I think of all the challenges that women around the world have to face and that even here in Morpeth women have had to deal with in recent times – the floods and the recession just to name two of them – I get invigorated and inspired.
“I was really surprised to see how many men wanted to get involved in our zip wire event, especially as they began to plan their costumes with tutus and tiaras.
“It promises to be even bigger than the last event as we are already exceeding our own targets for attendance. This would not be possible without the people of Morpeth responding so enthusiastically.”
The event will be held at Morpeth Rugby Club, Mitford Road, on Sunday, March 10. It will start at 9.30am and carry on until 3pm – craft stalls and face painting for children will be available on the day.
It will then finish off with an ‘After Zip Party’, including a glass of celebratory cava and bar snacks for those who have been on the zip wire, at La Bodega.
Each person taking part needs to raise a minimum of £75 sponsorship. As well as zipping, there are lots of other ways to get involved as you can be a business sponsor for a minimum of £25, sponsor a participant, donate via credit card or text or purchase a ticket to sit in the VIP area (£10 per couple, with unlimited vintage teas, coffees and cakes and an event photograph included).
The money raised from the Oxfam Get Together events will support a range of projects such as helping girls access schools in Burkina Faso and assisting women farmers in Ethiopia to become entrepreneurs and provide for their families.
For more information about the Morpeth Zip Wire, including how to book your place which is compulsory, visit www.emma-bunting.co.uk/events.html