Superhero Grandad Chris Upham from Warrington will have to wait at least another month to scale new heights to help local people with cancer.
Chris, from Great Sankey, was planning to don a Spiderman costume to take part in the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity abseil this weekend.
But due to high winds being caused by Storm Amy the event has been postponed.
Chris said: “I have just received notice from Clatterbridge that the abseil has had to be postponed due to the expected high winds(in excess of 55mph) which are above the safety limits.
“The event will now take place on Sunday 12th October.
“So Spiderman will go back in the box for 4 weeks and hopefully there’s now a chance of a few more donations.”
He is taking on the challenge to say thank you for the care members of his family have received from The Clatterbridge Cancer Charity.
Retired police detective Chris said: “I have been scared of heights all my life but I don’t know what the biggest challenge is, abseiling down 11 storeys of the hospital or dressing as Spiderman. But when you get to 77 and having spent so my working life in the police, you get used to having the mickey taken out of you.”
The dad of two and grandad of eight, decided earlier this year to take part in the abseil down the side of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.
He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and had recently lost a family member to cancer. He had also seen his niece ring the end of treatment bell following cancer treatment and learned his brother-in-law was in remission from the disease.
Chris said: “I wanted to do something tangible to show our gratitude, to all the Clatterbridge locations but especially The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool.
“This abseil is a huge challenge for me but at almost 78 years of age you don’t get many opportunities to test yourself.
“I also know from personal experience that my fear of heights is nothing in comparison to the fear someone has when they are first told they have cancer and so I decided to give it a go.”
Chris, who is married to Margie, was aiming to raise £500 for taking part in the Clatterbridge abseil in September.
He said: “I thought if I could raise maybe £500 it would be a job well done, but I hadn’t counted on how generous my family and good friends could be.
“I now have had donations totalling more than £6,500. I hope to improve on that and would love to get it to £7K, but we’ll see.
“I think what may have spurred my supporters on was when I said if they got me to £2,500, I would do it dressed as Spiderman, Spiderman’s grandad more like. Apparently, that’s what they all want to see so I am doing that and hoping I can now reach £7,000.”
Chloe Hicks, Events Fundraiser at Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, said: “We’re so grateful to Chris for taking part in the Clatterbridge abseil.
“His determination and good humour are truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to meet him and his supporters on the day.
“It’s thanks to people like Chris that we can continue supporting the one in two people affected by cancer in our region.”
You can sponsor Chris here.
