Chichester teen with fear of heights to abseil Spinnaker Tower for charity

Caitlin Waldron is used to pushing herself with fresh challenges and last month appeared with the English Youth Ballet in its production of Swan Lake at the Kings Theatre in Southsea. But the 100-metre descent from the city’s iconic landmark is something else altogether for the 17-year-old, who is raising funds for a charity mission to Africa.

“I have a fear of heights but have decided to take on a challenge which is way out of my comfort zone in order to support families who urgently need our help in Africa,’ said Caitlin. ‘On a previous visit to the Spinnaker, I didn’t even like making the Sky Walk over the glass floor! However, I have decided to take on the abseil on Sunday, June 4, because it is for an amazing cause.’

As a sixth-form student at Bishop Luffa School, Caitlin will be part of a mission team travelling with the Grassroots Trust in July to deliver food to families, make and distribute water filtering systems, build beds and paint schools in Tanzania.