On the 31st August 2021, Ed Higby, a Patient Transport Dispatcher from Chesham in Buckinghamshire, will be travelling 1.5km at a breath-taking 100mph on Zip World’s Velocity 2 zipline at Penrhyn Slate Quarry in North Wales.

Ed said:

“I have a passion for supporting charities and have done a number of fundraisers. After an incredibly tough year, this time I wanted to help raise money to support my ambulance colleagues and the guys who look after us every day. The zipwire has been on my bucket list for a while, and I thought now was the perfect opportunity to merge my two goals and fundraise for TASC.”

As well as the challenge of raising funds, Ed, who is also training to be a Community First Responder with East of England Ambulance Service, has been working incredibly hard to shed over 28 pounds to meet Zip World’s weight limit.

Ed said:

“When I first signed up, I was around 21 stone and I need to be around 19 stone to take part. Shedding the pounds has been another personal goal of mine and I’ve been doing everything I can to reach my target. I’m more determined than ever to be ready to zoom over Wales on the 31st!”

Ed has set out to raise £1,000 for TASC and is already over half way which could help TASC provide 10 people with an hour of counselling or 12 sessions of physiotherapy for people injured in the line of duty. Ed is raising funds online via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/eds-zipwire-challenge

Jasmin Rana, TASC’s Director of Income Generation and Supporter Engagement, said:

“We’re so grateful that Ed is taking on this epic challenge to support our cause and raise vital funds for TASC. Ambulance staff have one of the most stressful jobs in the UK, and the continuing and long-term impacts of Coronavirus are making their job that much harder. At TASC, we’re seeing demand for our services growing and this is rapidly increasing as our lifesaving ambulance staff experience the mental, physical and financial impacts of the pandemic. With the support of people like Ed, TASC can continue to be there for the UK’s lifesavers when they’re struggling and need a bit of help themselves.”