Myself (Theresa) and my friend Simon (an experienced climber of over 10 years) will be climbing the equivalent of 'The Gherkin' one of London's most iconic skyscraper measuring in at 180m or 591ft (in old money!)

As a fully glazed building it isn't possible to climb or even absail the building itself, so we will be climbing indoors at Calshot Climbing wall, climbing the same height, which works out as about 14 climbs in total.

We will be doing it as a relay climb, myself with my limited vision and Simon wearing a blindfold.

I only started climbing in February this year and I instantly fell in love with it, I may not climb in a conventional way, rather than following a coloured route I tend to feel and sweep the wall for where the next hand or foot hold is.  In addition to climbing I also belay for my climb partner Simon.  This entails me holding his guide rope & ensuring that it is tight at all times, so if he were to come off of the wall during a climb, he wouldn't fall or be injured.  Unlike many other climbers on the wall, I am not able to watch him climb, so rely fully on the feeling through the rope to know where he has moved.

As a visually impaired climber I do not suffer from any trouble with heights, as my sight has deteriorated so much so that I can just about see my hand in front of my face, however when I am up a wall, I am just as able and free to move and clim as any of my fellow climbers.

Simon, has previously climbed both at climbing gyms and outside, he is n experienced climber, bu he like me, wanted to find a challenge that he could undertake while climbing.  

This is why he will be blindfolded during his climbs.  Something that he has ben practicing to do,  having always relied on his sight to climb, especially at a climbing gym where the holds are brightly coloured, I think this has been more challenging for him than he first expected.

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