Royal Marines support NHS with launch of daring charity abseil

This May, thrill-seekers will don harnesses and helmets to brave new heights from the top of the 70-foot-tall building, under the expert guidance of these world-class commandos, raising vital funds for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL).

Lieutenant Colonel Gary Veacock, whose wife received life-saving treatment for a neuroendocrine tumour at the Royal Free Hospital, said: ​“We are your Royal Marines – the nation’s Royal Marines – and it’s a privilege to deliver this event with the Royal Free Charity in gratitude for the exceptional care given to our families.

Funds raised will support RFL’s 17,000 NHS staff and the two million patients they care for each year. The abseil takes place on Friday 9 May and Saturday 10 May from the roof of the Pears Building – home to the Royal Free Charity and UCL’s Institute of Immunity and Transplantation.

Gary added: ​“The care my family received here has been nothing short of extraordinary. The teamwork and dedication of the staff remind me so much of my time in the marines; it’s never about the individual but the whole team.”

With spaces limited, the Royal Free Charity is urging daredevils to sign up fast and secure their spot on this unique adventure.