Liverpool Cathedral Abseil - 2024
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in the Mersey Cares Charity Abseil 2024 at Liverpool Cathedral in September. The team of Mersey Care staff, carers and volunteers raised an incredible £3,525 to support our mental health and community services across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Despite the wind and threatening rain, nothing could dampen the spirits of our fantastic team of challengers who showed amazing courage and dedication in support of our Mersey Cares NHS Charity.
The abseil, which is only open to charities, is an incredibly unique challenge and offers a special way to fundraise. The 150ft drop down the west side of the one of the UK's most iconic buildings offers great views of the city (for those who dare to look!). Abseilers are lowered past the stunning trio of multi-coloured windows designed by renowned English stained glass artist Carl Johannes Edwards and the imposing Great West Door, creating a spectacular sight for those cheering on from below.
The day was a huge amount of fun, with various charities in attendance. One of our participants, Zoe Manley, Clinical Team Lead took on the challenge as she wanted to give back to the charity for the wellbeing support provided for her team - made possible due to charity funding.
"It was a great day, with music, food, and an uplifting spirit throughout the event. I was really excited to do the abseil. Luckily, I’m not afraid of heights, so I just took in the views on the way down! The staff were helpful and reassuring, and there was a big round of applause when each person landed—though I can't say my landing was very graceful! I wanted to support the charity as I'm passionate about the zero suicide perfect care goal. I’ve also seen first hand the staff wellbeing initiatives funded by the charity, and they’re fantastic. I’m sending my team on the Knowsley Safari wellbeing day in October, so this was my way of giving back."
Raising £500 for Mersey Cares, Lois Fagan said:
"My main reasons for taking part in this challenge was to offer support, raise awareness and funds to support the work the charity does. As well as pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone and get some adrenaline going."
Paul Kerrigan, a Primary Care Mental Health Nurse, wanted to undertake his first-ever abseil for Mersey Cares despite sharing that heights are not one of his stronger points. “The charity is in relevant infancy at the moment, so I wanted to support raising its profile to the wider Trust and public, as well as supporting its various worthwhile causes, including Young Onset Dementia Support groups,” he said.
Despite his height-related reservations, Paul completed the challenge successfully raising £145 for our charity!
“The day very much had a community vibe about and was conducted very well, with plenty of support and professionalism from the instructors. Fellow Mersey Care staff were also very welcoming and supportive."
A small team took part in the challenge to raise awareness of psychosis and support the Warrington and Halton Early Intervention Service at St John’s Unit in Widnes. The team is dedicated to helping individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis. One of the fundraisers raised an incredible £1,300 for Mersey Cares - with the overall figure raised by the team reaching £1,597!
Supporting the team was Nismen Lathif, a Consultant Psychiatrist working in the Early Intervention Team and colleague and Clinical Lead, Tracey Harrison.
"Early Intervention in Psychosis has a team of nurses who are dedicated motivated and committed to provide life changing care for patients and families," said Nismen ahead of the abseil.
"Over the years I have seen our nursing team going above and beyond to provide comprehensive patient care. A condition such as psychosis affects not only the patient but the wider family; the manner in which our community team links up with families in supporting and educating them about the condition is inspiring; the carer workshops developed and provided out of hours on a regular format over the past years is one of the very few services I have seen.
"Early intervention in psychosis provides a biopsychosocial care plan not only improving health but also focusing on social outcomes such as employment and educational goals. The manner in which a service user, returns as a functional person in the society, from the grips of an enduring mental illness, with the sheer support of a community team is inspiring. My abseil challenge is to make awareness of psychosis and to showcase that with help of a dedicated team, this condition could be resolved with good outcomes."
Clinical Lead, Tracey, who has worked in the team for just under 12 months took part in the abseil not only to increase awareness of psychosis but to show support for her team and service users.
“I am passionate about my role in The Early Intervention Team. It is extremely rewarding to me due to being able to follow our service users journey and supporting them through their recovery,” she said.
"I feel lucky to work in a team who provide excellent care to our service users with a view to improving their overall mental health and ability to function in the community. The Early Intervention Team works exceptionally well with the service users and families under our care ensuring that their needs are met holistically. Psychosis affects so many people - whether they experience the illness themselves or whether they have a family member or friend suffering from the illness, it is imperative that care, support and education is provided consistently.
"I am completing the abseil to raise awareness of psychosis and to show my dedication to the team and the service users under our care.”
Also taking part were Alison and Scarlett Wellens whose reason for signing up was multi-faceted. The challenge was in part as a tribute to their late friend who had been supported by Mersey Care, but also a personal challenge to raise awareness of Mersey Cares — and to support their own mental health.
The event was particularly tricky for Alison, due to the number of steps required to climb to the top of the Cathedral. Both Alison and her daughter have a condition called HNPP, a disorder that affects the peripheral nerves and causes numbness, tingling and muscle weakness in the limbs. Described by Alison as an ongoing daily challenge she shared that “our day-to-day health is like a roller coaster of symptoms and emotions.”
Before signing up to the abseil, the mother and daughter took part in a workshop through St Helens Carers Centre that encouraged them to talk openly and listen to one another, which she said, “had a huge impact on us.”
Explaining why she wanted to take on the challenge for Mersey Cares she shared: “As I look down I see the luminous pink band on my wrist, one of several that over the last year we have worn with various phrases about mental health, this one being 'never give up'. So Scarlett and I are going to abseil for Mersey Cares."
Despite the steps being a potential challenge, Alison and Scarlett both completed the abseil to rapturous applause as they touched down on solid ground.
"We really appreciate you giving us the chance to do it! I don't think I stopped grinning for days." said Alison following the event. Alison's condition did not affect her ability to abseil at all, with the stairs to the Cathedral roof posing the greatest challenge.
"Scarlett was the one describing how 'chill' she was, while I went down like I was trying out for the SAS—no one would have guessed that if they'd seen me going up!"
The dynamic duo are now interested in signing up for a Mersey Cares skydive, so watch this space!
Special thanks go to GRAHAM, the contractor currently building the state-of-the-art mental health facility at Mossley Hill, for generously sponsoring 10 abseil places. The GRAHAM team will also be taking part in their own charity abseil for Mersey Cares on 28 September at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool Football Club.
Fundraising for Mersey Cares allows us to support a wide range of services in physical and mental health, learning disabilities, and addiction services. The funds raised are put directly into projects that make a real difference, such as creating online training tools to start conversations around suicide prevention, providing worry bears and wellbeing packages to children, and developing therapeutic sensory gardens for patients to reconnect with nature as part of their recovery.
Speaking about the event, Joanne Watson, Strategic Charity Lead at Mersey Cares, said:
"We are so thankful to all who took part in our second annual Mersey Cares abseil. The Mersey Care staff, carers and volunteers were just incredible and have raised a fantastic amount for our charity. We’d also like to say a huge thank you to GRAHAM for their support in sponsoring the abseil places for our challengers. Every penny raised from this event will benefit Mersey Cares, enabling us to enhance our specialist services in physical and mental health, learning disabilities, and addiction support. Our focus remains on suicide prevention, addressing health inequalities, improving carer support, and alleviating the pressure on NHS staff."
If you’d like to continue supporting our work, please consider making a donation to help us do even more for those who need it most.
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Thank you once again to all who took part, and to everyone who donated. Together, we’re making such a difference!