'I faced my fear of heights for persecuted Christians'

Amy up in the rigging

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

A charity worker confronted her fear of heights by climbing up a tall ship mast to raise awareness of persecuted Christians.

Amy Balog grabbed courage with both hands to scale the rig of the Cutty Sark - the massive 19th century tea-clipper based in Greenwich.

Amy works at Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), and was raising funds and awareness of the charity's annual #RedWednesday campaign, which this year is shining a light on persecuted Christian children.

Amy climbed 70ft of a mast that is around 153 feet high, attached to safety gear including ropes and a harness.

Clambering up the 'ratlines' - rope ladders - she reached one platform before switching to another where she had to "hold on tight" and shuffle along a foot rope to another deck with breathtaking views of the city.

She said: "I have a fear of heights, not serious like vertigo, but the climb was challenging and way out of my comfort zone.

"The scariest part was when I was told I had to abseil down. I've never done that and it was terrifying.

"I was told to take my feet and hands off the ropes and to sit in a space which was part of the equipment I was attached to. I felt so insecure, I felt instinctively I was going to fall.

"But they started to release the ropes and lead me down. It was over much quicker than I thought."

Amy said that she was motivated by the witness accounts she'd heard from people living in countries where the persecution of Christians is acute, including Nigeria.

She said: "I've been to several ACN events this year where I had the opportunity to meet several project partners from Nigeria. I listened to first-hand accounts and testimonies from survivors that have really moved me.

"It made me really understand the extent of the persecution and hardship facing communities in north Nigeria. Especially hearing about the displacement camps, the horrible conditions Christians displaced by violence must live and children growing up knowing nothing but the camps.

"Families have lost all hope and ACN is the only organisation in many cases standing with them and I feel I need to do something."

The charity is marking #RedWednesday on 19th November with a special Mass and evening with an African theme at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, at 5.30pm.

Amy added: "Red Wednesday is a chance to come together in support and solidarity for persecuted Christians around the world. To raise our voices for people whose voices otherwise wouldn't be heard."

To sponsor Amy see: https://acnuk.donorsupport.co/page/FUNUKTJPNVA?fundraiser=ClimbforHope&member=SWXCGPXD

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org