A FORMER Pembrokeshire woman has helped raise £26,000 for the RNIB.
Avril James, whose mother Doris lives in Carew, helped raise the magnificent sum for the charity when she took part in a sponsored abseil down the Giffard Hotel in Worcester.
"It was a cold, damp, windy morning for the abseil, but we all had to do it for this worthy cause," Avril, who lives in Worcester, said afterwards.
By mid-morning it was raining, but by the time Avril and her friends Sarah, Megan, Tony, Neil and Wayne came to take up the challenge, the sun was shining.
After tuition, it was time to ascend to the top of the hotel.
"What a fantastic view looking out over Worcester Cathedral and the Malvern Hills," she commented.
After their safety harnesses were strapped, the group made their way to the edge of the hotel - it was now or never time!
"We slowly had to move our feet over the edge and we were away. What a fantastic feeling to be coming down that rope and knowing that you were doing this for a very worthy cause, " said Avril.
"Friends and colleagues were cheering us on and in no time we were at the bottom.
"It was a great day and £26,000 was raised for the RNIB Wales and Midlands area," added Avril, who would like to thank everyone in the Carew, Cresselly and Tenby areas who sponsored her, and the Tenby Observer for printing her appeal for sponsorship.
And just to prove she dared to do the abseil in aid of the blind, she has got a certificate and t-shirt to mark her achievement!