On Sat 15 July, three cousins - Jo, Ant and Mark, plus Mark’s fab wife Esther, will be abseiling down the Etihad in memory of Ant & Mark’s beloved mum (Esther’s MIL/Jo’s auntie), Carol, who we recently lost to cancer after the most valiant of fights.  We want to raise money to support young people across Manchester, Carol’s home. Man City’s charity, City in the Community, has launched a new fundraising initiative Healthy Goals, empowering healthier lives through football. Monies raised will be put towards uplifting the physical and mental health of young people by creating new community football spaces in Manchester, where the charity’s youth-led programmes will also be delivered. 

That is the primary purpose of doing the abseil. However - and being cheeky - if anybody wishes to make a separate offline donation to St Ann’s Hospice in Cheshire, who cared for Carol for the last 2 months of her life, that would be doubly appreciated.  

As a lifelong Man Utd supporter, Jo is having to take a deep breath before setting foot in the Etihad (let alone abseiling down it), and will not be taking up the offer of all abseilers being able to have their photo taken with the Treble trophies…  As lifelong Man City fans, Ant & Mark have promised that they will return the favour at Old Trafford some time. And as a cancer nurse doing the abseil in her precious time off, Esther deserves to be sponsored just for being a complete angel.