Daring the plunge, Julie Hiley, Billy Pearce and Adele Kerrod
By Emma Kirwan
A grandma has conquered her fear of heights by doing a 25 metre abseil down a building in Bradford for her granddaughter who has a rare form cancer.
Julie Hiley, 47, of Yeadon, abseiled down The Jury’s Inn hotel, Thornton Road, last week to raise money for her 18 month old granddaughter who has Ewing Sarcoma-a cancer which is thought to affect less than thirty children each year.
Mrs Hiley said “I was nervous, but I don’t like to think about things too much in advance. To see so many people coming to support Isla was amazing; I am so grateful and proud of myself.”
Isla-Grace Large was diagnosed with cancer in October 2014 after she developed a tumour in her lymph node in her neck.
She has since undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and will be traveling to America for proton beam therapy next month with her parents Beth Hiley and Rhys Large, who are both age 20.
As Isla-Grace and her parents could be there for a long time her family and friends have been fundraising for the trip. The living cost has been estimated at £10,000.
Brave gran Julie Hiley with daughter Beth and baby Isla Grace
The abseil last weekend was provided free of charge by Lost Earth Adventures, York, and also braved by comedian Billy Pearce and Mrs Hiley’s friend Adele Kerrod.
Mrs Kerrod, 41, who works at CLS Identification Ltd, Bradford, said “The worst bit was going over the top, it was so windy. I feel relieved now I’ve done it and I’ve done something to help raise money for Isla and that is what it was all about.”
Miss Hiley said “I am so proud of my mum, she is absolutely terrified of heights and she has done it. She had a few blips coming down but she has done it and she did amazing.”
Richard Goodey,33, Lost Earth Adventures, said “It was nice to be in the moment, it’s a great atmosphere and it is a pleasure to be a part of an event like this.”