Skegness Rotary Club member climbs O2 for charity

Lucy Hawleys on top of the world after her charity O2 climb. ANL-160403-120319001

Lucy Hawley, of Skegness Rotary Club, took the challenge to climb the outside of the O2 along with other Rotarians from around the country to mark Rotary International’s 111th birthday.

However, when she agreed to the challenge, she said she had no idea bands would be rehearsing inside.

She said: “I climbed the day before the Brit awards and the bands were practising so you could feel the bass pumping under your feet as you walked.

“It was a beautiful day and the visibility was really good, around 15 miles. You can see a lot of the landmarks of London and the guides are very knowledgeable.”

The climb, which took about one and a half hours to complete in two stages, was done at Up at the O2 – the highest point being 52m. Lucy said: “It is split into sections which are at varying degrees, the largest being 30m, so it is quite steep in places.

On the way down it can take its toll on your knees.

“You are harnessed on to a hand rail that runs the length of the walkway and you walk up in small groups with a guide. The walkway is bouncy, it’s meant to feel like the surface of a tent but it feels more like a trampoline.”

Lucy said: “It was an amazing experience, I got to meet fellow Rotarians from all around the country, some who I already knew, and also made some new friends.

“The views once you get up there to the viewing platform are fantastic and we stopped to take photos.

“I’d highly recommend the experience to others and I hope to go back in the summer months when they do late climbs after sunset and you get to see London by night.”

A tandem bungee jump Lucy had planned to do with her acrophobic husband Scott (40) at the West Midlands Water Ski Centre had to be postponed, but has been rescheduled for April 3 in Windsor, when hopefully the weather will be better.