Royal Free Charity Abseil 2026

Brave New Heights is open to anyone aged 16 or over. Under 18s must have consent from a parent or a guardian who must be present on the day and a form of ID is required. 

People take part as: 

• individuals
• friends and family groups
• workplace or NHS teams 

You will be asked to sign a waiver that declares you have no medical conditions that would prevent you from taking part. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions that you are unsure about, please speak to your doctor for advice. 

Brave New Heights is a 90-foot charity abseil down the side of the Pears Building at the Royal Free Hospital in north London. You’ll receive a full safety briefing and be guided throughout by the Royal Marines. 

Yes, but everyone must register individually. Places are subject to availability so please make sure teammates don’t leave it too late to join your team and chose the same time slot. More information on how to sign up as a team can be found when you register. 

No. You don’t need any previous abseiling experience. The Royal Marines will talk you through every step on the day. 

You don’t need to be an athlete to take part. As long as you’re comfortable with a physical challenge and able to follow safety instructions, most people can participate. If you have specific health concerns, we recommend checking with your GP. 

Once you’ve registered, you will automatically be set up with an Enthuse fundraising page. You’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps, practical information and fundraising support. 

When you complete your registration, your fundraising page will automatically be set up on Enthuse, our fundraising platform. 

There is a minimum sponsorship amount of £200. 

Your sponsorship could help support our patients and staff in many ways. With £200, we could: 

• help us train our volunteers who bring companionship and support to a lonely patient
• pay for half a day of training for a peer facilitator to lead a patient group, helping them to comfort and reassure patients experiencing isolation
• pay for seven hours of complementary therapy for a patient, helping to reduce stress and aid recovery during a hospital stay

• Wear comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes with no heels. Please be aware that there may be some waiting time once up on the roof so please dress appropriately for the weather. 
• Long hair must be tied back. 
• You will be provided with the correct personal protective equipment for your abseil including a helmet which must be worn always
• We will send out further information closer to the event so please ensure you check your email for what’s required on the day 

You’re welcome to invite up to two people to come along and cheer you on. On the day, our team will let them know where they can watch from safely. 

While we’re not able to accommodate friends and family in the charity office due to limited space, the Pears Building atrium has a café that supports the work of the Royal Free Charity and offers seating and toilet facilities. To use these, visitors will need to make a purchase. 

We ask all participants to make every effort to raise £200 in sponsorship (excluding Gift Aid) and we will of course be on hand to provide you lots of tips and advice on how to reach your target. If you struggle to do so, please email us and we can discuss further options to support you with your fundraising. 

Your registration fee does not contribute towards your fundraising. It contributes towards the cost of your place and the costs involved in organising the event. 

If you are no longer able to take part, please email us at [email protected] and we can cancel your place. Please note that if the Royal Free Charity must cancel the event due to foreseen circumstances your registration fee will be refunded. However, if you withdraw from the event yourself or the event must be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, your registration fee is not refundable.