NewsGreat-grandfather becomes oldest person to take on The Anfield Abseil
Lifelong Liverpool fan, 82-year-old John Blackhurst, recently braved a 100ft abseil from Anfield's Main Stand to become the oldest person to take on the challenge so far.
John, from Southport, had never done an abseil before, but was thrilled to receive a voucher for The Anfield Abseil as a gift from his family for Father’s Day.
The decision was made that if he was doing something so adventurous at 82 years old, he should use the opportunity to raise some money for charity.
At the time of writing, the great-grandfather has raised more than £1,500 of vital funds for Queenscourt Hospice, which offers the best possible specialist palliative care, free of charge, for people facing life-limiting illnesses.
Choosing Queenscourt Hospice to raise money for was an easy decision for John, as it provided end-of-life care for two of his family members: his daughter’s husband, Stephen Rimmer, and his granddaughter’s husband, Stuart Hooper.
Speaking before going over the side of the Main Stand, he said: “Queenscourt Hospice is truly a special place. The care they offer is fantastic and I am determined to raise as much money for them as I can.
“Both Stuart and Steve were fit, young men and had a real love of adventure, so it seems very fitting that I am doing something so challenging in memory of them.
“Incredibly, Stuart worked as a structural engineer on the Main Stand when it was being extended, between 2014 and 2016. He was proud to be a part of the project, so it feels special that I am abseiling off that very stand in his memory.”
John’s abseil was a success and he completed the 100ft challenge to huge cheers from his family and other onlookers. You can donate to his fundraiser here.
“It was one of the best experiences of my life,” he said after the abseil. “I’m still feeling on a high over the whole thing due to the amount of people still donating. I’d like to thank everybody for their amazing support!”
If you would like to take on The Anfield Abseil, the experience can be booked now via stadiumtours.liverpoolfc.com.
Participants must be at least 10 years old to take part, with youths (10-17 years) costing £38 per ticket and adults £45.
You will also receive a souvenir wristband, free entrance to The Liverpool FC Story Museum worth £10 for adults and £6 for children, and full safety briefing and abseil equipment on the day.
There is also a 10 per cent discount promo code for season ticket holders and LFC Official Members: MEMB10ABSEIL. Visitors will be required to present an NFC pass on their smartphone on arrival at the stadium to verify the offer.
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.