By Justin Flynn
Jumping from a 27-floor building might not seem like everyone’s idea of fun but two local women will take the plunge for a worthy cause.
Ocean Grove’s Jenni Farrar and Belmont’s Heidin Kunoo will participate in Anglicare’s Altitude Shift, which requires entrants to abseil down the St James building – all 113 metres of it.
The event aims to support children in foster care.
“Heidin came to me one day and asked, ‘Are you scared of heights?’,” Jenni recalled.
“I thought she was asking me to change a lightbulb but then she asked, ‘Do you want to abseil?’.
“This is an opportunity for me to abseil down the front of a building and raise money for kids who really need it.”
Heidin has done the Altitude Shift before, in 2016.
“The first time I was totally nervous, but these (foster) kids don’t have a choice, but I do have a choice to try and make a difference,” she said.
“I’ll step out of my comfort zone if it helps those kids.
“It’s my second time now, so I’m more excited rather than nervous.”
The event, on 27 and 28 April, is limited to just 200 participants, but each needs to raise a minimum of $850.
Jenni works at St James Anglican Church in Point Lonsdale, where Heidin is training to become a minister.
The local community has gotten behind their cause.
“The community is very supportive even though they might not want to abseil, they are more than happy to contribute,” Heidin said.
“These kids don’t choose to have parents who cannot look after them, but I have the choice to actually do something about it.”
Jenni has never abseiled before.
“When I told my husband, he said ‘that’s a bloody stupid thing to do’,” she said.
“He’s a bit scared of heights, but I just look at as a way of helping foster kids.”
To donate to Jenni’s and Heidin’s cause, head to www.altitudeshift.org.au and search for their names under ‘looking for someone?’.
