Benaifer Bhandari goes over the edge

MORE than 80 people aged 13 to 67 abseiled down an 18-floor tower in Euston last Thursday to raise thousands of pounds for women’s charity Hopscotch.

Dangling 70 metres above the pavement, Hopscotch’s CEO Benaifer Bhandari, the mayor of Camden Nasim Ali, British Land employees and other volunteers abseiled, or slid, down an all-glass skyscraper in Regent’s Place.

An impressive £43,000 was raised for Hopscotch, the mayor’s chosen charity of the year.

Camden of Mayor Nash Ali on the ropes

Benaifer Bhandari with writer Monica Ali

Ms Bhandari said everyone at Hopscotch was “thrilled” by how much money was raised: “With £43,000 we can hire somebody for one year, full time, to bring down our waiting list of people coming to us who are either facing violence or are survivors trying to survive. That means a lot to us and the communities we serve.

“I was touched by the passion that everybody who took part displayed for Hopscotch on that day and how lovingly they spoke of our work. It inspires us when we realise people outside of our charity care as much as we do.”

Hopscotch patron and Brick Lane author Monica Ali came to cheer the charity on.

She told the New Journal: “They’re a special organisation. There’s nothing else like it in the area. They have this great approach where they’re not afraid to take on the really complicated challenging cases with a multitude of needs, and it takes a lot of dedication and passion to do that. And they’re perennially short of funds so days like today are just really important.”

Frankie Lister-Fell makes it look easy

The mayor said after the abseil, which follows a skydive he and Ms Bhandari did a few weeks ago: “It was fantastic. It was really exhilarating, so a big thank you to British Land. They were amazing and all the partners here because there were so many different businesses coming together.”

He urged people to “keep giving” to Hopscotch’s fundraiser. The event was sponsored and organised by British Land who own Regent’s Place.

David Walker, COO at British Land who took part in the abseil, said: “We really want to use our space to help local not-for-profits. We think space is the biggest asset we’ve got so let’s collaborate and use it.

“We match up to £500 for our employees’ charitable donations and sponsorships. Given the work [Hopscotch] does, it’s phenomenal.”

You can donate at: https://britishlandregents place.enthuse.com/pf/councillor-nasim-ali