Stevo backs mayor’s abseil

Coun Eric Firth is being sponsored by sports pundit Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson to abseil down a building at the University of Huddersfield on March 9.

The Dewsbury-born Sky Sports star offered £250 in sponsorship when he realised he wouldn’t be able to do the abseil himself.

The money being raised is all going to the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, the charity Coun Firth has chosen to support during his year in office.

Stevo visited the hospice last week and said he impressed with the work that was being done there.

He said: “I was so impressed with the people that are running it and what they have achieved. It’s nothing short of miraculous.”

Coun Firth said: “I showed Stevo round and he couldn’t fail to be impressed by the work that is being done there and is planned to be done there.

“I asked if he would abseil with me and unfortunately on the day we’re doing it he has to be in London.”

Stevo said: “I have to work, so I thought the least I could do was give a donation to what is an absolutely fantastic organisation.”

To raise even more money for the hospice, Stevo hopes to organise a Yorkshire versus Lancashire all-star golf tournament.

Preparations are still being made so it is unlikely to take place before Coun Firth’s term as mayor ends.

But with three months of his term to go, Coun Firth has already raised a record-breaking £60,000.

That beats the previous record of £52,000 set by Coun Jean Calvert, who also supported the hospice during her year as mayor in 2007/08.

Coun Firth hopes to have raised £100,000 by the time his term ends.

The Reporter Series editor Hannah Ridgeway, photographer Jake Oakley and managing director Helen Oldham will also be taking part in the charity abseil.

Hannah said: “It’s such a fantastic cause and we want to raise as much money as possible.”

If you would like to sponsor any of our team, call into the Dewsbury Reporter office at 17 Wellington Road, Dewsbury.

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