Diggle daredevil set to take on next hair-raising charity challenge

A DAREDEVIL who abseiled down one of the world’s biggest roller coasters is set to take on another hair-raising challenge for charity.

This time 71-year-old Stan Bowes from Diggle plans to climb and walk over London’s Millennium Dome, the famous O2 Arena.

Stan, who is president of the Rotary Club of Saddleworth, plans his next escapade to coincide with Rotary Day on February 23.

His mission is to raise money and awareness of Rotary’s ‘end polio now’ campaign and as a boost for the ‘Roll out the barrel Tryst’ which helps women and children in Africa.

Stan said enthusiastically: “I love raising money for a good cause and Rotary.

“It’s hard if not impossible, to pinpoint a reason but monies raised is simply a great by-product of having fun.

“I enjoy doing things you normally don’t get the chance to do, whether it is photographing wild alligators or abseiling from the The Big One. They all have some element of risk.

“But after all, at my age, you have to have some excitement!”

Two years ago Stan raised £1,500 by abseiling down The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, which works with soldiers and their families who are suffering the consequences of catastrophic injuries in action.

Stan added with a smile: “Incidentally, there is a chance in early in July I will be racing across Douglas Harbour on the Isle of Man in a tin bath!”

You can make a donation to Stan’s Millennium Dome challenge on Stan’s Just Giving page: justgiving.com/stanbowes