Stockport Mayor scales dizzy heights

The Mayor of Stockport and the Chairman of NHS Stockport Foundation Trust abseiled down an 80-foot-tall building for charity. 

   Councillor Wendy Meikle and Dr Robina Shah were among
   20 people who abseiled down Stopford House – one of
   Stockport Borough Council’s main buildings – to raise
   money for the Tree House children’s centre at
   Stepping Hill Hospital.

   Other organisations that participated included
   Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and
   Rescue Service, Stockport Women’s Aid and SAS Lawyers.

   After the abseil, Councillor Meikle, said:
   “What inspired me to support it [the Tree House] was a
   young boy who cycled to school and gave his bus fare
   to the hospital, and that really touched me.

   “The big national charities get a lot of support with loads
   of fundraising going on, but these are local ones and the
   Tree House is such a worthy cause.

“A lot of people know a relative or someone that’s been in the Tree House and I just thought it was a really good cause.”

The Tree House is one of the Mayor’s two chosen charities this year – along with Stockport Without Abuse – and cares for children under-16 at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Dr Shah was extremely grateful for the Mayor’s involvement – who is hoping to raise £20,000-£30,000 throughout the year – and believes her continuing support will be a major boost for the Tree House.

She said: “The Mayor’s support has been absolutely tremendous. We’re not just pleased, we’re really humbled that she’s chosen to support the Tree House and that she’s going to be organising activities gradually over the year.

 “It’s hugely important for the Tree House because, for a small district general hospital, we don’t often get the opportunity in the same way as Christie’s might.

“By giving us that kind of exposure, people in the community will know much more about the Tree House, what it does and how it supports children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable in our communities.”

Councillor Meilke was determined to support charities in Stockport – rather than national ones – in order to make a difference to the community.

“To me, the obvious choice was for all the money that we raised to be kept in Stockport for charities that people sometimes overlook,” she said.

Dr Shah agreed: “The things we could do with money like that include re-designing some of the family rooms, re-design some of the wards, which will be done in consultation with the young people so that they’re involved and in control of the environment that they feel is appropriate for them.

“It’s absolutely fantastic and we’re just so pleased that it’s being done and it’s going to be great for the whole community of Stockport.”

The abseil is one of several events the Mayor is planning in support of her chosen charities over the coming months.

These include a hat-making competition among Stockport schools, and a wear-white day organised for Friday November 23 where schoolchildren and local businesses in exchange for £1, or whatever they can afford, will attempt to get Stockport wearing all white for a day.