A team of Birmingham hotel workers raised nearly £2,500 for charity by abseiling down 20 storeys of a city centre hotel.
The volunteers were all supporting fundraising efforts by Tanith Sherwood, revenue manager at the Hampton by Hilton hotel on Broad Street, whose son Harrison suffers from the rare Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS).
She was one of seven daredevils who abseiled off the roof of the Holiday Inn Express Snowhill to raise money and awareness for the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation UK charity (PMSF UK).
Tanith, whose hotel is a keen member of Westside Business Improvement District (BID), said: “PMS is an extremely rare genetic condition affecting only around 2,000 children worldwide.
“It means that although Harrison is aged six he is non-verbal, still wears nappies, is very unstable on his feet and unable to communicate.
“All of this means he always requires intensive care and supervision. He’s completely unaware of danger and how the world outside his four walls works.
“Despite all his difficulties he’s a very determined, strong-willed and happy little boy who surprises and delights us every day. People say ‘he lights up a room’.”
Tanith was joined in the abseiling event by four colleagues from the Hampton by Hilton on Broad Street. They were Samantha Dunion, general manager, Nichola Currall, finance controller, Joshua Dunn, reservationist, and Dan Kemp, regional director of finance.
Also taking part were Lulu Donna, sales manager from Holiday Inn Express Snowhill, who led the abseiling event, and Tanith’s husband Darren Sherwood.
A total of £2,490 was raised at the event and the team was awarded an ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award for its support for the PMSF UK charity.
Tanith added: “I was so pleased that my colleagues and others in the local hotel industry supported our efforts. We had a great time and every penny raised will go towards helping families who have someone with PMS.”
Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “What a heart-warming story that so many hotel workers joined together to help this charity. And what a smashing little kid Harrison is. His smile brings the whole project alive!”
Anyone who wants to know more details about PMS or to donate to the charity can visit www.pmsf.org.
