A 96-year-old woman was among 25 brave individuals to abseil down 100ft last week in aid of children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

The Plum Pudding Plunge took place from the top of the Queen’s Stand, at Epsom Racecourse, on Sunday, December 4, raising £8,500.

Gertie Painter, 96, from Crawley, a long time supporter of the charity, took part in the event completing her eighth abseil, of which five have been in aid of CLIC Sargent raising £5,000 for the charity.

Megan Wheatley, events intern for CLIC Sargent, said: “To still be doing all this abseiling at the age of 96 is just absolutely brilliant. “I watched her do the abseil and she was really good.

“It was quite a tricky abseil and she did it quite quickly and I was quite surprised.

“It was a great festive atmosphere with lots of fancy dress.

“Luckily the weather held up so everyone could do the abseil.”

CLIC Sargent social worker, Jon Ruchpaul, who works at the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton also took part.

He said: “I work with children and young people who within 24 hours of first meeting me have been faced with the devastating news that they have been diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia.

“A family’s world is turned upside down when they hear the terrible news.

“There’s so much for the family to take in, so I can step in to ease the burden of cancer on the parents and the family.”

CLIC Sargent would like to say thank you to Roman Scaffolding, based in Sutton, who donated their services for free.