Hospice Hero Thelma abseiling into her 90th birthday

Thelma Forbes from Ottershaw in Surrey celebrated her 90th birthday by abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth on Saturday 26th August to raise money for Woking & Sam Beare Hospice.

Thelma set off on her 100m (328ft) descent from the top of the tower with her companion Sam Beare keeping her company on her dare devil challenge.

“When I first stepped out the ledge was very narrow and it was utterly terrifying but after taking the first few steps down I thought, this is going to be fun.” commented Thelma “Then the wind picked up and blew
me about. I couldn’t get my feet back on the wall and I was gasping for breath. I could hear my family cheering me on and it spurred me on.”

“It was an absolute privilege to be there to watch and support Thelma on her 90th birthday challenge,” Sam Wakefield, Marketing and Challenge Events at Woking & Sam Beare Hospice “She is an inspiration, we are all so proud of her and so grateful for her incredible support”.

Our Hospice hero Thelma previously took on a Skydive for her 75th birthday in aid of the hospice and is planning her next challenge a wing walk or a zip wire she is also starting flying lessons and getting her first tattoo.

“I think the work the hospice does is incredible and I am very happy to support such a worthy cause” added Thelma.

Thelma’s daughter, Janine Forbes, said: “Mum is the most determined person I know. You may think she is a meek and mild little old lady, but she has a will of iron and once she has set her sights on something, nothing can stop her.”

We aren’t the only ones to think Thelma is amazing as after her challenge she was invited to be interviewed on Channel 5 News and the Radio Five live drive time show.

You can watch Thelma on Channel Five news.