A South Oxfordshire woman is taking on a daunting 100-metre abseil down Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower in memory of her father. The brave fundraiser is conquering the challenge after Sue Ryder Nurses helped care for him at home in his final months.
Amanda Watkins-Cooke, from Sonning Common, is joining five friends in the challenge to raise vital funds for the charity. Her father, James, died in 2022 from mesothelioma just eight months after his diagnosis.
Amanda said: "My dad was my hero. He was so driven and always set himself challenges. I just want to do something that would make him proud." James was cared for by Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire. The team supported Amanda and her mother, Jean, to look after him at home.
Amanda added: "The Sue Ryder Nurses were incredible. They enabled us to care for Dad at home, which is what we all wanted, and ensured his final days were as dignified and as positive as they possibly could be. They never made us feel rushed. They stayed as long as we needed and were always at the end of the phone. We’ll be forever grateful." She paid special tribute to members of the team including lead nurse Elaine, Ellie, Cath, Cassie and Andrea.
Daunting Height: Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower
Inspired by the care her dad received, Amanda has been fundraising each year since his death and has raised £4,000 so far. While her first two years supported a mesothelioma charity, she has since dedicated her efforts to Sue Ryder. This year, she is pushing herself far outside her comfort zone by abseiling down the tower, despite a lifelong fear of heights.
Amanda said: "I hate heights, I don’t fly and I’ve even had to be talked into going up the Eiffel Tower in the past. So, to jump off the side of the Spinnaker Tower is going to be a huge challenge for me." She will take on the abseil alongside Pauline Jones, Leslie Thomas, Sophie Snowden, Martin Smith and Ann Small. All of her friends have been personally affected by cancer and want to support the charity.
Lesley said: "I wanted to take on this challenge as a thank you to the Sue Ryder team for taking beautiful care of my father and making his passing a calm and dignified experience for him and our family." Pauline said: "June 20th marks the anniversary of my mother-in-law’s passing. The team from Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire was there for her and our family, helping us all through a difficult time. Sometimes I do wonder why I agreed to this terrifying challenge, but helping raise essential funds makes it all worthwhile."
Ann said: "It’s a great way to raise funds and highlight the wonderful work of Sue Ryder, and at the same time prove to my grandchildren that I’m not ready to be an ‘oldling’!" Sophie said: "Sue Ryder took fantastic care of my grandpa. He was well looked after and the team provided fantastic support for him and my family. Hopefully our abseil will go some way towards highlighting the amazing work of the Sue Ryder team."
The group will tackle the challenge together as part of a fundraising weekend. They have raised £2,700 so far, building on the £1,500 Amanda has already raised for the cause through a netball fundraiser. Amanda said: "Everyone taking part has their own reason for doing it, and I’m so grateful to them for supporting such a great cause. Fundraising has become important to me. Without Sue Ryder, Dad wouldn’t have had the end-of-life care he deserved, and we just want to give something back."
Amanda has also been using the challenge to cope with difficult milestones. She chose to complete the abseil around Father’s Day and her dad’s birthday. She said: "I find those times really hard. This gives me something positive to focus on." Amanda, who works as a PE teacher, has received wide support from friends, family, and her local community, including parents from the schools where she teaches.
