ALWAYS looking for a different challenge, the vicar of Christ Church Great Ayton, Canon Paul Peverell, is dropping out of this year's Great North Run in order to drop off the Transporter Bridge at a sponsored abseil on Sunday, August 29.

In March this year, when he launched the appeal for £50,000 for repairs to the church spire and £5,000 to put a roof on the church in Ghana, he tried to organise such an event himself, either down the spire or some other local height, but the cost was prohibitive. Consequently, when Christian Aid came along looking for volunteers, Mr Peverell's form was straight in and the organisers agreed to share the sponsorship.

When the congregation of Great Ayton heard about their vicar's new venture to raise money for the spire appeal, they wondered whether he was climbing to new heights or sinking to new depths.

Mr Peverell said: "This is something entirely new for me as my knees turn to jelly if I have to climb a ladder. However, you can't let life pass you by without trying new things, and this is a great opportunity to do some good. One only has to watch the terrible suffering that is presently taking place in the Sudan to know the necessity to support relief organisations there, such as Christian Aid.

"I shall be taking the 9.15 Sunday service first at Christ Church, after which any members of the congregation are invited to come along and watch. The only request I am making is that the choir don't tempt fate by singing They scraped him off the tarmac like a lump of strawberry jam!"

Fundraising has been on the go at Christ Church since March as the church sought to raise £50,000 towards the necessary repairs of the steeple. The parochial church council also agreed that at the same time they would also raise £5,000 to put a roof on a church in Ghana that has been without a roof since it was built in the Sixties.

The vicar visited this church at Agbozumbe last August when he was in Ghana for the consecration of the new Bishop of Ho in the Volta region, who has visited Great Ayton on several occasions.

Mr Peverell said: "The people there are thrilled that someone, somewhere cares enough to help them though they wouldn't believe it is true until some money arrives, as they have been let down so often in the past. Fundraising efforts for the spire and roof appeal have now topped £43,000 and thanks are due to all who have worked so hard and been so generous."

If you would like to support Canon Peverell in this latest venture, send any contributions to him at the Vicarage, Great Ayton, and the money will be divided between the spire and roof appeal and Christian Aid.