Paul Day, the technical director of Filestream, a prominent UK document management specialist company, is gearing up to participate in the world’s first-ever Skyscraper Challenge. The event, set to take place at London’s iconic skyscrapers, The Cheesegrater and The Gherkin, will test the endurance and courage of its participants. This unique challenge involves running up the 42 floors of The Cheesegrater, followed by a choice between abseiling 200 meters back down to ground level or taking a zip wire across the London skyline to The Gherkin.
However, this is no ordinary feat for Paul. He is taking on this challenge to raise funds for Tommy’s, a charitable organization dedicated to saving babies’ lives through groundbreaking research and comprehensive support for families throughout the pregnancy journey. This cause holds a personal significance for Paul who
shared his motivation for participating in the Skyscraper Challenge, saying, “My wonderful niece and her great husband lost a beautiful baby, so I am doing this in memory of Win.” To prepare for the event, Paul has been diligently training and making regular visits to the gym. He recently completed the couch to 5k running program and participated in his first park run, finishing in an impressive time of 37 minutes and 55 seconds.
Paul’s fundraising efforts have already made significant progress, with him reaching 70 percent of his personal target of £1,250. Donations to Tommy’s are crucial to support their work, such as funding midwife appointments for parents, providing pregnancy information resources for antenatal units across the UK, and maintaining the Tommy’s Net database, which collects clinical trial results to improve care for parents.
Expressing his pride in joining Team Tommy’s and supporting their mission, Paul emphasized the organization’s goal of reducing the heartbreaking statistic that one in four women lose a baby during pregnancy and birth. He believes that every parent should have the best possible pregnancy outcomes.
As for the daunting decision of which challenge to undertake, abseiling or zip wire, Paul revealed his choice. “I will be running up over 1,000 stairs to the 42nd floor of The Cheesegrater then abseiling 200 meters down it,” he said. Assured by the safety precautions provided by expert abseilers, including a four-point harness, helmet, and gloves, Paul is confident as he prepares to descend from the towering building.
To support Paul’s admirable fundraising efforts for Tommy’s, individuals can visit his fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/paulday2023. By contributing to his cause, supporters can help make a difference in the lives of families and contribute to the ongoing research and support provided by Tommy’s.
Paul’s participation in the Skyscraper Challenge not only showcases his determination and commitment to a charitable cause but also serves as an inspiring example for others to step up and support initiatives aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes and saving babies’ lives.
