Dad joins 350 fundraising daredevils in abseil down hospital

Three hundred and fifty fundraisers abseiled 160ft down a hospital last weekend – including a dad who has now raised more than £14,000 for charity.

The daredevils abseiled 14 floors to help raise vital funds for three charities supporting Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – Guy’s Cancer Charity, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and Evelina London Children’s Charity.

Participants came from far and wide to take part in the St Thomas’ abseil on September 22, and 23. Alongside patients, friends and families, more than 130 NHS staff took to the heights.

Mark Verrall, 50, from Bromley took on the abseil to fundraise for the hospital that saved his daughter’s life.

Born in May 2022, Mr Verrall’s daughter, Sofia, had to be resuscitated at birth. She was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth North, where she received lifesaving care. 

Sofia remained in the intensive care unit for a month before returning home for the first time.

Now 16-months-old, Sofia is surprising everyone with her determination and fight. 

Mr Verrall, said: “She is seeing, hearing, giggling, smiling, interacting, and is the brightest little girl you could imagine. 

“Sofia loves art, books, and understands both English and Italian. She is my inspiration and has climbed more mountains than I ever will.

“Although she still has a big journey ahead of her, she is doing incredibly. 

“Sofia is a beautiful little girl and without Evelina London she may not be here today and the same could be said for so many babies.”

Mr Verrall took on the abseil less than two weeks after cycling a mammoth 1000km from Loch Ness in Scotland to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Together with six friends, Mr Verrall  completed the formidable distance in just seven days. 

He said: “Throughout my fundraising challenges everyone’s been calling me a superstar, but I’m not, the real stars are the nurses and doctors at Evelina London who saved Sofia’s life.”

Mr Verrall’s abseil, cycle and charity football tournaments have brought his team’s fundraising total to £14,000. 

Alison Rulton-Reed, Head of Community and Events at the three charities, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to everyone who took part in the St Thomas’ abseil this year, and raised over £225,000 so far for Guy’s Cancer Charity, Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity, and Evelina London Children’s Charity.

“The money raised is helping to fund life-saving equipment, life-changing research and better facilities for patients here – above and beyond what the NHS can provide. “

To support Mr Verrall’s fundraising, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/lochness2london.

Pictured top: Mark Verrall with Sofia and his abseil team (Picture: Mark Verrall)