Age Scotland’s chief executive to zipline across the Clyde

Age Scotland’s chief executive, Katherine Crawford, is taking part in next month’s Zipline the Clyde charity fundraiser – and she will be joined by her 81-year-old mother, proving that age is no obstacle to tackling daredevil challenges.

The event, on September 14th, involves flying 1245ft across the Glasgow skyline on a zipwire 100 ft in the air. Katherine admits she has not got a head for heights – “I once crawled to the top of  a Munro,” she says – but her mother, Noreen Fordyce, who has sky dived, climbed, played competitive tennis and golf until her mid-70s and is still very active, has no qualms about the vertiginous adventure.

Although Katherine expects the zipwire to be ‘quite nerve wracking’ she is reassured by other people saying it will be great fun, and she’s decided to believe that.

It is also an opportunity to raise funds for Scotland’s charity for older people, which she has led for just over a year.

“I joined Age Scotland last summer, already committed to standing by older people so everyone in Scotland can have the best quality of life possible. In the last year, my colleagues, the volunteers and older people we work with every day has further inspired me. Not least when I see the incredible impact we can have. I see and hear from older people all the time who tell me what a difference our work makes. It gives me the zest for our work.

“Our advice helps 30,000 families a year. Volunteers make friendship calls to people struggling with loneliness every day and we work with hundreds of groups across Scotland who provide vital services in their local communities.

“And speaking of zest, Mum and I have a combined age of 139. Mum is full of vim and vigour, and up for anything.  She’s supporting us in case she needs Age Scotland’s support one day.

“I am scared of heights and am incredibly uncoordinated. It’ll be a challenge not to scream all the way down!

“Your support and good wishes will really make a difference to us. Thank you.”

Click here to support Katherine and Noreen.