The iDrop at British Airways i360 in Brighton is BACK and Rockinghorse is looking for thrill-seekers to take on this eye-watering challenge…
The second annual Rockinghorse iDrop will take place on the longest day of the year, Friday 21 June. Participants can witness the sun setting into the sea as they are securely lowered from the open pod doors 450ft above Brighton seafront, providing a spectacular view of the city.
What is the iDrop?
The iDrop challenge at the British Airways i360 will be operated by Wire and Sky and places are limited to 30 people only, who are able to each raise the minimum £250 in sponsorship for Rockinghorse. Thrill-seekers will enjoy sweeping 360-degree views as they glide back down to beach level as the sun sets on the longest day of the year.
British Airways i360 is a viewing tower on Brighton seafront, with a giant glass pod rising from ground level to 450ft. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye and is the highest UK viewing platform outside of London.
Emily Bamber, spokesperson for British Airways i360, said: “Rockinghorse is the official charity partner of the British Airways i360 iDrop and we are all excited about welcoming their fantastic supporters for this magical adventure above Brighton seafront on the longest evening of the year.”
About last year’s event
2018 saw the first-ever British Airways i360 iDrop take place in April, when 29 people participated in the challenge for Rockinghorse. They included 14-year-old fundraiser Jake Heal, 85-year-old daredevil grandmother Jeannine Brett, and IBO super-middleweight boxer Chris Eubank Jnr. Together they raised an incredible £40,000 towards the purchase of a specialist X-ray imaging machine for the Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Brighton. Click here to find out more.
Our charity is best-known as the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton, and a vital supporter of the neighbouring Trevor Mann Baby Unit along with its sister site, the Special Care Baby Unit in Haywards Heath.
We work in partnership with local hospitals, respite centres and specialist children’s services throughout Sussex. Here at Rockinghorse, we fund projects which focus on improving a child’s physical and emotional well-being, while providing additional support services for parents and carers.
How funds raised will support us
This year, the iDrop event will be raising funds for Chalkhill Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit in Haywards Heath, which is Sussex’s only mental health inpatient unit for young people. Hannah Seltzer, challenge events fundraising manager at Rockinghorse, explains more:
“Those taking part in the Midsummer Night’s iDrop will help bring some sparkle to the lives of young people suffering with mental health illnesses in Sussex. All money raised from the event will help fund the Rockinghorse Activities Programme at Chalkhill in 2019. This much-needed project provides young people with leisure activities on and off site, as well as the opportunity to try new things.”
The Rockinghorse Activities Programme has been in place at Chalkhill since 2015 and complements the clinical work of the unit, alongside its education programme. It has proven to be vital in the recovery of young people with mental health conditions. Click here to find out more about the project.
Get involved!
We are now taking applications for a place in the unique Rockinghorse iDrop charity event. Registration is £50 with an additional minimum sponsorship of £250 per person. Applications will close on Friday 31 May at midnight and the person who raises the most amount of money in sponsorship will be the first person to make the drop!
Fancy dress is encouraged at the unique fundraising event, with the summer solstice providing the perfect opportunity to add some glamour and sparkle to a costume (unfortunately no capes are able to be worn during the actual drop).
Please only apply for a place if you are confident you can raise the minimum sponsorship required. Please visit our Events page to download an application form, by clicking here. For further enquiries, please contact Hannah at Rockinghorse on 01273 330044 or email hannah.seltzer@rockinghorse.org.uk.
