Ali overcomes Vertigo and makes giant leap for charity
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Ali Hewson is pictured abseiling from the Elysian Tower in Cork city in aid of the Chernobyl Children's Project
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By Ralph Riegel
Monday Jun 1 2009
BONO'S wife Ali Hewson conquered the dizzying summit of Ireland's tallest building to make it a 'Beautiful Day' for a children's charity.
Ali abseiled from the roof of the 17-storey Elysian Tower in Cork as part of a drive to raise €100,000 for Chernobyl Children's Project International (CCPI).
Fifty student gardai also undertook the challenge.
A breathless Ali later admitted to the Irish Independent that the abseil was well worth the effort -- including the first slightly nervous look down!
Hope
"Student gardai organised this abseil to raise funds so that children like Olga and Kristina (two Belarusian children), who came to Ireland unable to walk, can return to Belarus and walk into a real home -- a CCPI 'Home of Hope'. If a lot of people can give a little, it means so much," she said.
Mountaineer Pat Falvey, who has conquered Mount Everest, was on hand to offer some helpful tips about coping with heights. Also on hand to cheer Ali on was her close friend and CCPI founder, Adi Roche.
Adi paid tribute to Ali's courage and determination to help CCPI.
"My heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make today possible, from the gardai to O'Flynn Construction and all our wonderful volunteers.
''Every single one of the abseilers here today has shown how the tremendous power of the human spirit can make such a meaningful impact on the lives of others -- and how together we can all make a difference," she said.
- Ralph Riegel
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