A charity abseil event has been declared a “soaring success” by its organisers.
Dozens of people roped down the 120-foot Dundee University Tower Building in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Dundee Carers Centre.
The youngest participant was aged 17 and the oldest more than 80, while many of the fearless fundraisers chose to don fancy dress while completing their sponsored challenge.
Among their number was Dundee West MP Jim McGovern, who said: “The scary bit was climbing over the railing and standing on the parapet with the instructor telling you to lean back.
“Once you start bouncing down the side of the building, it’s quite enjoyable.”
He and the other supporters of the carers centre hope to have raised around £10,000, while Marie Curie patron Petra McMillan said she believed the charity would receive up to £13,000 from its backers.
She said: “Thanks to the bravery of our daredevils, we will be able to provide at least 575 hours of high-quality, hands-on care to individuals with a range of terminal conditions, not just cancer, at home, at the end of life in this postcode area this summer.”
The abseil attracted interest from a wide range of people including large teams from Charlie Taylor Hair and Beauty, NHS Tayside and the university’s humanities faculty.
Hayley Greensmith of Dundee celebrated her 17th birthday on the ropes.
Another of those taking part was Janette Simpkins of Broughty Ferry who overcame her chronic vertigo in memory of her late husband Ed, who was nursed by Marie Curie at home.
For every one local family Marie Curie can help, one is turned away due to lack of funds and it is this imbalance that Petra is determined to address.
“I strongly believe that every person deserves the right to be where they want to be at the end of life but it is a cruel fact that without enough funds in place there is no guarantee of that outcome.
“Thanks to people like Janette and all our daredevils, we’re ensuring the funds are in place for more families to have their call for help answered when it really counts.”
Carers centre deputy manager Tim Mineard said: “This is the first event which has been organised to celebrate the centre’s 25th anniversary year and the money raised will help us get closer to our £25,000 fundraising target.”
The centre is an independent charity providing practical and emotional support to unpaid carers of all ages across the city.